Vincent Bouget, the mayor of Nîmes and president of Nîmes Métropole, has launched an economic strategy focused on strengthening local development and aligning politically with the Occitanie region. At an event he called his « economic return, » Bouget emphasized an approach known as « endogenous » development, which focuses on supporting existing local businesses rather than attracting new ones from elsewhere. This strategy is in line with Jalil Benabdillah, vice-president of the Regional Council of Occitanie responsible for economic development, who will oversee the initial study for a new economic development agency. The agency is expected to begin operations in early 2027 and will create only a small number of new positions. Olivier Fabregoul, another vice-president for economic development, stressed the importance of ensuring a « return on investment with control, » highlighting the need for accountability in public spending. Bouget has inherited several complex challenges, including the Magna Porta airport and the Nîmes Sud economic activity zone. He suggested that the area around Magna Porta might need to be reduced, while Nîmes Sud relies heavily on state funding. He also expressed doubt about the viability of a data center project previously proposed by his predecessor, Franck Proust. These decisions reflect Bouget’s focus on managing existing assets and ensuring their long-term sustainability. In addition to addressing these challenges, Bouget aims to position Nîmes as a European capital of the social and solidarity economy. This involves supporting cooperative enterprises, helping them access land, and establishing a cooperative school named after Charles Gide. The management of local market halls could be transferred to a SCIC (Cooperative Society of Collective Interest), which is a type of cooperative organization that operates for the public good. Bouget also plans to create an economic and social conference to maintain regular dialogue with local businesses, ensuring their needs are addressed in policy decisions. Nîmes Métropole is home to around 26,070 establishments, of which 9,770 are employers, representing 37% of the total. Nearly two-thirds of these businesses operate without employees, and 60% are located within the city of Nîmes itself. The local economy is heavily driven by commercial and non-commercial services, which accounted for 86% of the 107,269 jobs recorded in 2022. The private sector provides 67,090 salaried jobs, with the majority in services (60%) and commerce (24%), and only 7% in industry. This structure highlights the importance of service-oriented industries in the region’s economic landscape.