PACA region : a growth of more than 3% in 2001.

The growth should keep on being strong in 2001 in PACA (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur). From a survey conducted over 1.800 companies in the region, Gilbert Egmann, the regional director of the Bank of France, considers that the growth should be up to 3 % at least, over the year. And this would happen after an excellent year 2000 with an increase of more than 10 % of the turnover in all activity sectors (services come first with a 17 % increase). The unemployment rate which has fallen to 12.7 % (it is still 3.5 points more than the national rate) should keep on decreasing with an expectation of job creations up to 5 % in services and 4 % in the industry.