This document summarizes a presentation by the Gers Chamber of Commerce and Industry on rural development in the Midi-Pyrenees region of France. The CCI represents local companies, especially small and medium enterprises, and supports their development projects. It also works with regional and local authorities on economic development initiatives. Some key issues facing rural areas in Midi-Pyrenees are an aging population, lack of infrastructure in some places, and young people migrating to cities. Existing policies aim to address these challenges and modernize agriculture. The CCI is involved in EU projects and hopes to transfer good practices from other regions, such as promoting local brands, through its work in the GRISI PLUS project.

1. Launching conference
Toulouse, 9th of February 2012

2. Presentation of the
Gers Chamber of Commerce
and Industry
Kyriaki PANAGIOTAKI

3. The Gers CCI at a glance
• Public establishment AFAQ ISO 9001 certified
• Main activities:
– To represent local companies (especially SME)
– To support the creation of new SME
– To contribute to the economic development of the Gers
province
– To help the SME of the Gers province in their development
projects
– To develop new projects for the economic and territorial
development of the Gers province
– To provide specific training to the staff of the companies in
Gers
– To produce and diffuse economic information
– To create and manage local infrastructures
• We collaborate closely with regional and local authorities for
the development of the Gers province and the Midi Pyrenees
region
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4. The Midi Pyrenees region
Midi Pyrenees is the largest region in
France
• In the heart of the European South-West, the Midi
Pyrenees region has a surface of 45 348 km2.
• 8 provinces, 3 021 towns and villages, the majority
of which is grouped in 210 associations of
municipalities
• A rather rural region but 75% of its inhabitants lives
in urban areas.
• 25 % of the population and 50 % of the professional
activity of the region are concentrated in the urban
area of Toulouse.
• 2 245 towns/ villages count less than 500
inhabitants.
• 2 855 792 inhabitants.
• Approximately 3000 public organizations are
users and/or producers of geographic
information in Midi-Pyrenees Region
INSPIRE CONFERENCE 2011 June 27th 4
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5. The Midi Pyrenees region at a
glance
Population (inhabitants) 2 855 792
Surface area (km2) 45 348 km²
Density (inhabit/ km2) 63%
% rural population 56%
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6. The most important issues in Midi
Pyrenees regarding rural development
• Population ageing
• Some territories lack of infrastructures (national roads,
highways, ICT infrastructures…)
• Migration of young people towards big cities
• Competitiveness of of agriculture and agro-food sector
• Modernization of agriculture and agro-food industries
• Preservation of environment and rural areas
• Diversification of economic activities in rural territories
• Development of the attractiveness of rural territories
(environment, services, facilities…)
• Small cities in rural territories are not sufficiently developed
1. The « pressure » of Toulouse – the big capital
2. Some people « sleep » in the countryside but they work in cities
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7. Existing policies regarding rural
development in Midi Pyrenees
1. National policies implemented at regional level:
 « Contrat de projets Etat-Région 2007 – 2013 »
 « Conventions interrégionales pour le massif 2007-2013 »: specific
measures for the mountain area of Midi Pyrenees
 « 9ème programme de l’Agence de l’eau Adour-Garonne »: for the water
management
2. Regional policies:
 « Schéma Régional de Développement Economique »
 « Schéma régional d’aménagement et de développement du territoire »
 « Schéma Régional d’Orientation pour le Développement du Tourisme
et des Loisirs »
 Agenda 21
3. European policies implemented at regional level:
 « Programme de Développement Rural Hexagonal 2007-2013 -
Document Régional de Développement Rural Midi-Pyrénées »
 « Document de Mise en Oeuvre du programme Compétitivité Régionale
et Emploi 2007/2013
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8. Activities/ projects already
implemented in rural development
1. SOHO SOLO programme
2. « Tables du Gers » action
3. EU projects for the ecomonic and territorial
development of the Gers province: GRISI, PYRED,
Red Local Plan, E-Incorporate, Crea-Business-Idea,
Crea-Net…
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9. The Gers CCI in GRISI PLUS
and its expectations
1. Project coordinator – close cooperation with regional
and local authorities
2. Donor of good practices in geomatics
3. We wish to benefit from the experience of other
partners
4. We wish to transfer good practices and develop new
projects in the field of promotion of local tangible and
intangible products
 Promotion of a local « Gers » brand
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10. The good practices to transfer
to other regions
1. The strategy of the geomatics centre « Teleparc »
2. The SOHO SOLO programme
3. Exemples in the field of geotraceability (traceability of
the geographic origin) of food products
4. Geographic Information Systems applied in tourism
(ex: SIG Armagnac)
5. The « Tables du Gers » action to increase the
competitiveness of traditional restaurants
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