Regional Economic Support

In 2002, the Total Group made a commitment to create 1,000 jobs to support the economy of the Toulouse region. Today, it has exceeded its objective, as about 2,000 jobs have been generated, particularly through the efforts of Total Regional Development

The Group has pursued a policy of dynamically supporting business activity in Toulouse, while at the same time, contributing to job-creating development investments in cooperation with the local actors.

Total’s direct support for the regional economy

  • Tenesol Technologies, a Total joint-venture with the electricity utility EDF, decided to build its European solar panel manufacturing unit in the Greater Toulouse area. The Group invested 4 million euros in the Tenesol Technologies factory, located in Saint-Martin-du-Touch. Since the plant opened in 2005, the site has already tripled its production and, by the end of 2008, was employing nearly 100 people.

The Tenesol plant in Saint-Martin-du-Touch in Greater Toulouse.
© Tenesol

  • The Group’s Refinery Marketing segment also chose Toulouse as the location for a centre that runs part of its regional information systems. This activity has generated 200 jobs.
  • The opening of the Industrial Safety Culture Institute has led to the creation of 20 direct jobs. As a centre for training and scientific research in this field, the potential for spin-off jobs is high.

Support for all types of businesses

Total has also implemented a system to support reindustrialisation by granting loans without requiring guarantees or stipulating the type of business, at zero-interest or preferential rates. This financial aid was allocated through various channels: 

  • In the summer of 2002, the Group sent a team to Toulouse specifically to prospect projects and applications from companies in the region likely to grow and correlatively, to create new jobs. More than 50 applications have since received support from Total Regional Development, which has committed more than 5 million euros.
  • Total entered into agreements with regional partners to prospect SMEs. Thus, Total signed a convention with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry through the Haute Garonne Initiative. A contribution of €460,000 was also paid to support this action. As a result, 112 micro businesses were created, representing 270 new jobs.
  • Total also encouraged the initiatives of the Institute of Regional Industrial Development (IRDI) by contributing 2 million euros to its ICSO1 fund.

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Useful links

Haute Garonne initiative

IRDI  

ICSI