Hauts-de-France Prepares for Key Regional Economic Discussions in Saint-Quentin

Hauts-de-France is set to hold a significant economic meeting on February 11 in Saint-Quentin, hosted by the CCI de l’Aisne as part of the Les Rencontres Régionales de l’Économie series. This event, focusing on 'Cross Perspectives on Changes in Commerce,' aims to analyze the regional economic environment and its ongoing transformations. It follows meetings in Lille and Arras and precedes sessions in Amiens and Beauvais.

The commerce sector in Hauts-de-France is robust, composed of nearly 99,000 establishments, employing 300,000 people, and generating €55 billion in revenue. These figures underscore the commercial sector's importance to the local economy. The event invites business leaders, merchants, artisans, and farmers to participate free of charge with prior registration.

Concurrently, although focused on the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, the appointment of Mathilde L’hôte as director of the Chambre régionale de l’économie sociale et solidaire (Cress) is notable. L’hôte has outlined strategic goals for 2026 to boost visibility and development of the Social and Solidarity Economy (ESS), which in 2025 employed over 181,000 people in that region alone, spanning sectors such as social action, health, agriculture, and culture. Her initiatives reflect broader trends of regional economic leadership and social innovation in France.