Antoine Saintoyant Announces Major Financing Plans for Regional Development

Antoine Saintoyant, recently appointed director of the Banque des territoires, is poised to implement significant financial support for regional development in France, focusing particularly on challenges posed by climate change. During a recent interview, he outlined an ambitious initiative targeting mountain regions, which will address the detrimental impacts of climate change, including the necessary transformation of ski resorts that are threatened by natural disasters.

The Banque des territoires plans to allocate over 28 billion euros in loans to local authorities throughout 2024. This financial strategy will include an additional investment of 1.5 billion euros in capital projects and 250 million euros designated for engineering grants, which are instrumental in catalyzing further investments. Saintoyant’s approach emphasizes the critical importance of regional cohesion, drawing lessons from the social unrest experienced during the gilets jaunes movement—he argues that enhanced local governance and empowering mayors to manage commercial properties are key to maintaining stability and preventing future disparities.

Having significant prior experience as an economic advisor to Prime Minister Édouard Philippe, Saintoyant aims to leverage this position to further reinforce the capabilities of local leaders in managing economic resources effectively. He possesses strong connections to the Jura region, which deeply inform his understanding of rural development issues and challenges.