In Douai, France, President Emmanuel Macron recently defended the industrial and ecological progress made in the region, addressing around 600 employees at the Sino-Japanese AESC battery manufacturing facility, an investment launched only four years ago.

Macron emphasized that there is no inevitability to adversity, stating, "The times are tough...

But what you embody here today shows that ecology and economy can go hand in hand if we invest, have a long-term strategy, and consistency."

The AESC plant is tied to the production of the new Renault 5, symbolizing the revival of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region, historically one of the poorest in France, where significant improvements are still needed.

This visit comes amidst parliamentary debates over key environmental policies, including the recent approval by deputies to eliminate Low Emission Zones (ZFE) aimed at curbing pollution in urban areas, and a setback to the Zero Net Artificialization (ZAN) initiative designed to restrict the concrete development of natural spaces.

Before concluding his visit, Macron is expected to inaugurate the France services house in Wallers, Nord, before travelling to Rome for a dinner with Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni.

Since taking office in 2017, Macron's administration has committed €1.3 billion to enhance the living conditions in the region, which has a population of approximately 1.2 million.

This funding is part of the 'Engagement for the Revitalization of the Mining Basin', a significant ten-year plan initiated in 2017, which aims to renovate 23,000 energy-inefficient homes across 35 mining towns.

As of now, 15,500 homes have been refurbished, and another 10,000 are under renovation, with the project budget now amounting to €124 million, exceeding the originally projected €100 million.

In 2022, Macron indicated an addition of €100 million for the renovation of public spaces in the basin, with €63.5 million already allocated.

From an industrial standpoint, the region has seen the creation of 2,200 jobs from 2022 to 2024, breaking the trend of job losses experienced over previous decades, largely due to the development of a battery production hub for electric vehicles in northern France.

Despite a 19% decline in the number of job seekers since 2017, poverty rates remain elevated at 21%, significantly higher than the national average.

During his visit, Macron participated in the official launch of production at the AESC site, which represents a total investment of €1.3 billion, inclusive of both French and European public funding, first announced in a Choose France summit in 2021. This 'gigafactory' employs 650 workers and has already produced 1,000 batteries, with plans to hire an additional 350 employees by the end of 2025.

"This launch marks a decisive step in AESC's commitment to advancing the reindustrialization of France and its leadership in global energy transition," stated Lei Zhang, chairman of AESC.

The facility has the potential to supply up to 200,000 vehicles with batteries annually.

According to an Élysée advisor, the Renault 5 is reported to be a significant commercial success, surpassing the performance of Tesla models in France.

Following the dissolution of the National Assembly in June 2024, Macron has stepped back in daily governance yet has re-emerged on the political stage this year, recently visiting the Hauts-de-France to assess the development of other economically challenged areas.