The rebirth of Valenciennes

In the two decades following the Second World War, the Valenciennes area went through a prosperous period because of the coal and steel industries. When these industries disappeared, the effects of the economic crisis were felt everywhere and they persisted for a long time : unemployment soared, while economic activity collapsed to be followed by a trail of social misery. Thanks to the Valenciennes area Chamber of Commerce, the arrival of Jean-Louis Borloo and because of its strategic geographical position and transport network, the region gradually rose from the ashes. It was able to attract important national and foreign companies in the car and rail sectors, and it has moved into state-of-the-art technologies such as digital technology. The last thirty years of economic depression are now over, but there are still many problems which need to be resolved.