The Banque des Territoires wants to invest against a two-speed France

“ Dealing with the end of the world and the end of the month. » Two objectives often considered irreconcilable, but which the Banque des Territoires promises to respect simultaneously. The most recent subsidiary of the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC), founded in 2018, does not yet benefit from a reputation equivalent to that of its parent company, the “financial arm of the State”. But the fifth edition of its Spring of Territories, organized this week in Paris, highlighted constantly increasing multi-sectoral activity.

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If the structuring axis of this bank – with a profile different from that of traditional establishments – remains the implementation of ecological transformation throughout France, its interventions cover a very broad scope, from reindustrialization to social housing, carbon-free mobility access to public services, without forgetting the energy mix.

“This annual meeting is primarily designed to share the progress made with all local elected officials, including of course the mayors, who are our clients,” explains Olivier Sichel. This 57-year-old Essec graduate and former finance inspector, appointed head of the Banque des Territoires in May 2018, defends the imperatives arising from the environmental transition as much as those linked to social cohesion. The CDC subsidiary, launched two years before the pandemic, saw its role increased thanks to the recovery plan, of which it is a key operator: 32 billion euros were mobilized from 2018 to 2023, including in health or tourism.

“Reconnecting social bonds”

“We support thousands of projects in all Regions”, specifies the director of the Banque des Territoires. The new strategic plan provides for more than 90 billion euros in new investments by 2028. With 16 sectoral measures: eight in the framework of the green transformation, the other half in the field of solidarity. Within the first category, the prize for the largest budget goes to the rehabilitation of public housing, with 16.8 billion euros devoted to the thermal renovation of social housing, but also schools and public buildings. The food transition will benefit from 180 million euros, while an amount of 1.8 billion euros is dedicated to “preservation of water resources”. On the solidarity side, it is unsurprisingly social housing that dominates investments, with 56.5 billion euros intended for the creation of “affordable” social housing.

Facilitating access to public services mobilizes 240 million euros. And that for law and justice thanks to digitalization, 3.8 billion. In the currently devastated sector of structures welcoming elderly people, dependent or not, a budget of 3.3 billion euros should make it possible to open more than 50,000 places in various types of establishments.

“To finance infrastructure projects, in particular the construction of social housing, nursing homes or residences for seniors, the A booklet is a fantastic tool,” explains Olivier Sichel. For him, all the resources of the Caisse des Dépôts group must be used to support major societal transformations, “without leaving any territory aside”. The pace of loans follows the acceleration of projects launched: 12 billion euros in 2022, 16.5 billion last year, and already 7 billion as of May 22, 2024.

“White areas”

“Local authorities are investing massively in the ecological transition, like Nice with a new wastewater treatment plant. It will generate four times more energy than it consumes. explains this former France Telecom manager, also at the origin of proceedings against Gafam for compliance with competition rules. One of its great reasons for pride lies in the almost total disappearance of “white zones”, that is to say without access to very high speed: “It is a very important factor of social cohesion. »

The deployment of electric charging stations will play a similar role in the years to come, according to the manager, who wishes to catch up with France’s delay in this area, in particular by also equipping co-ownerships. “The Bank of Territories is rebuilding social ties and aims to reduce divisions, to avoid having a two-speed country”, he adds. Next project, that of medical deserts, a very strong concern of elected officials in all Regions: “Several avenues are being studied, inspired by what was done in Belfort, with a health center which brings together around a hundred professionals. »