Vincent Labarthe, Vice-President of Occitanie, Marie Piqué and Geneviève Lasfargues, regional councillors of Lot, went to meet the Quercy-Bouriane community of communes (CCQB) on Monday 9 September. A meeting under the theme of the economy of the territory and the projects supported by the CCQB. The meeting was set at the business hotel of the Cougnac area, a building supported by the CCQB which houses innovative companies in the territory.
The first, Élément SAS, headed by Philippe Samama and Katia Bovez, offers the design and production of carbon fins for windsurfing boards in particular, an all-in-one product designed and produced by Philippe and Katia, in Payrignac. They are 2024 world speed champions: their fin actually equipped a board that finished 1st in La Palme, in the Aude. Their ambition: the world speed record in Namibia.
The second, Twinstep, a company based in the digital hub of Gourdon, is innovating in the field of functional rehabilitation by offering a device to re-educate the initiation of walking and the attack of the step. Behind this project, Christophe Barbaste, a physiotherapist for whom the idea began to germinate in 2012, and Bernard Guignard who acts on the marketing strategy and the search for partnerships.
The visit continued with a meeting with the Omnibois company, established in the area since 2009 and managed by Cédric and Karine Chambon. This sawmill produces stakes and wattle fences in acacia or chestnut. The opportunity for regional and CCQB elected officials to visit the wood energy storage platform that the Occitanie region supported to the tune of €200,000, as well as the community of communes as part of its support system for helping with business real estate.
For Vincent Labarthe, vice-president of the region: “We need to relay the strength of the territories in public action, and the region/community of communes duo competent on economic issues must do everything possible to promote this development. These two companies have found with the community of communes this hosting solution which allows them to devote themselves fully to the development of their activity.”
Jean-Marie Courtin, president of the CCQB, recalled “the importance that these vital forces represent for the territory, whether in terms of development or employment.”
Stéphane Magot, Vice-President in charge of the economy and employment, is delighted with the dynamism and innovation of the region’s businesses and welcomes the support and development actions undertaken and carried out by the CCQB.
Issues of employment and recruitment, support for innovation, search for partnerships, all issues raised by these business leaders which slow down their activity and to which the elected officials were sensitive.
