Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire warned Tuesday that achieving 6% growth this year will be "
a challenge
" given the
health
"
uncertainties
" that currently persist.
Read also: Bercy anticipates major post-Covid economic ruptures
“W
e have forecast 6% growth for 2021, the highest figure for the past 50 years.
This figure remains a challenge and I want us to be lucid about it:
lucid about the economic uncertainties that surround us and on which this figure of 6% growth will directly depend
, ”said the minister during his greetings to the press. by videoconference.
The recovery of the economy this year, after a plunge of 11% expected by the government in 2020, will depend on the "
speed of the vaccination
", the "
risk of a new virus appearing" and the "risk of a slowdown economic linked to confinements at our main European partners
”, detailed Bruno Le Maire.
The minister is counting on a difficult first half of the year but hopes for "
a very significant economic rebound
" during the second half of the year.
Possible support for partial unemployment beyond March
Faced with a still difficult health situation in France, the government is therefore planning to extend support to sectors in difficulty, primarily the hotel and catering industry.
Bruno Le Maire notably paved the way for an extension of the maximum support for partial unemployment beyond the month of March.
"
We are ready, with Élisabeth Borne, to give the maximum visibility to companies for the coming months on the maintenance of partial activity at 100%
", he said.
The strengthening of the solidarity fund to support "
up to 3 million euros
" over one year the fixed costs of companies (against 800,000 euros today in monthly payments of 200,000 euros) will intervene "
in the coming hours
“, He also announced.
Its most protective component could also be extended to new professions, such as winegrowers, wholesale food or drink businesses, or tourist residences.
Read also: The solidarity fund will target the most affected sectors
The minister is also due to travel to Brussels soon to “
finalize the discussion
” on the participatory loan mechanism intended to support companies' equity.
Responding to Medef's request to launch a second part of the recovery plan dedicated to these sectors in difficulty, he indicated that Bercy was working on devices to support, for example, the modernization of the hotel stock.
