#Meetourmembers: Thomas Urquijo - Business France
Meet Thomas Urquijo, freshly arrived in Chicago at Business France to promote Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes in North America.
Thomas’s Profesional Journey: From Parliamentary Assitant to Regional Representative
Thomas began his career as a parliamentary assistant at the National Assembly, where he worked for three years with the congressman of the third constituency of Aveyron. During this time, Thomas was deeply involved in legislative work, including drafting amendments, monitoring reports, writing speeches, and maintaining relations with various parliamentarians and members of the government. His primary focus was on issues concerning rural areas.
After three insightful and challenging years, Thomas transitioned to the role of advisor to the President of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, a position he held for five years. In this capacity, he was responsible for economic matters, industry, tourism, agriculture, professional training, and higher education. Thomas’s role required him to synthesize complex technical subjects and to present them in a politically relevant manner to equip the President with the necessary information for meetings or speeches.
This demanding role was both formative and enriching, constantly reminding him of the importance of serving the citizens.
In his capacity as an economic advisor, Thomas had the opportunity to come to Chicago to promote the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Now based in Chicago, Thomas’s mission is to promote the region through three key pillars: economics, education and research, and tourism. By being part of Business France, Thomas is uniquely positioned to drive economic growth for Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, all the while contributing to France's broader visibility and success in North America.
His goal is to raise the region’s profile in North America, fostering connections between North America and Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes. Thomas is dedicated to assisting companies from Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes looking to invest in North America and encouraging American companies consider investing in the Region. To do so, he knows he can rely on the strength and efficiency of the Business France network, as well as the expertise of his new colleagues.
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes - A model of effective regional management and industrial leadership
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is a model of dynamism and efficient management in France and Europe. Thanks to its sound financial management and under the leadership of Laurent Wauquiez and now its new president Fabrice Pannekoucke, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes has become the best-managed region in France, enabling significant investment in major industries and providing solid support for numerous businesses.
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes stands as the leading industrial region in France, with 45% of French mid-sized companies (ETIs) located here and half of the country’s relocation projects taking place within the Region. Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes aspires to be the driving force behind France’s industrial renaissance.
The region also boasts a thriving digital ecosystem, comprising 120,000 jobs, 15,000 companies, and a dedicated digital campus for researchers, students, educators, and businesses. In terms of energy, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is the foremost region in Europe for decarbonized energy production, largely due to its nuclear energy sector, which generates numerous jobs. Tourism is another strong suit for, making it the second most visited region in France.
On the European stage, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is highly competitive, ranking 5th among industrial regions. For the second consecutive year, it ranks first in Europe for hosting foreign industrial investment projects. After Europe, the U.S. is the region's largest customer, with approximately 640 American-owned companies operating in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and 250 companies from the region active in the U.S.
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes - A diverse and synergistic industrial hub
The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region is home to a wide array of industries, including metallurgy, machinery, equipment, food processing, and plastics. Emerging sectors such as microelectronics, healthcare, biotechnology, aeronautics, textiles, and hydrogen are also gaining momentum. This diversity fosters unique synergies; for example, textiles produced in the region are used in both luxury goods and aeronautics, or the medical field.
The region's strategy is to encourage local partnerships among businesses, industries, entrepreneurs, and public organizations in order to promote a regional mindset and collaborative work in a philosophy of combining strengths. Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes positions itself as a supportive partner for businesses, exemplified by its ambitious relocalization plan. Over six years, the region has committed €1.2 billion to attract investments, with each euro of public funding generating €17 in private investment.
In three years, this initiative has helped to validate some 800 relocation projects, enabling the creation of 14,000 jobs. Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes aims to be the best possible partner for business creation, economic consolidation and industrial growth, to ensure a prosperous economic environment.
Staying Competitive - Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes' Strategy for Global Engagement
To maintain its competitive edge, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes must stay at the forefront of innovation and market trends. This involves exploring new markets, forging new partnerships, adopting advanced processes, and taking proactive initiatives. Establishing strong connections with local partners in North America is crucial for staying attuned to the American market and reinforcing the region's industrial presence.
In a rapidly evolving market, adaptability is key. Understanding the ecosystem from within is essential for helping French companies quickly adapt and become operational. This mission also involves supporting French companies looking to expand into the U.S. and encouraging American companies to develop their activities in France.
Thomas highlights that one of the main challenges for French companies is adapting to the American market. The American market differs significantly from the European one, with distinct environments, specificities, and customer expectations.
Why should American companies invest in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes?
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes offers a wealth of economic advantages for industrial and economic development. The Region boasts a robust ecosystem, a network of subcontractors, top-tier higher education institutions, excellent transportation infrastructure, reliable raw material supply, and a high quality of life. There is no more welcoming ecosystem for businesses in France. The regional policy is resolutely and massively focused on industrial development.
Moreover, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region provides comprehensive support for companies looking to expand in the area. This includes assistance in finding industrial land, investment support, professional training programs…
The region is also home to "Agence Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Entreprises," the regional agency dedicated to assisting companies with their expansion projects. This agency ensures that businesses receive careful guidance throughout the entire process, from initial planning to successful implementation.
Strengthening ties with the FACC – Chicago
The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and the French-American Chamber of Commerce (FACC) in Chicago share common objectives and should collaborate to achieve their missions. The FACC offers significant advantages in fostering these relationships, in particular its large and reliable network.
The goal is to unite an ecosystem of public and private actors to achieve shared objectives and enhance the economic landscape. By working together, the region, the FACC and other economic actors can effectively support and promote French businesses in North America, ensuring the success of both French and American companies on both sides of the Atlantic.
Thank you Thomas for your time, commitment, and insights.
