Bruno Le Maire, Minister of the Economy, Finance, and Economic Recovery, was the guest speaker at our webinar, which focused on the issue of corporate visibility in 2021. Moderated by Jean-Marc Sylvestre, a columnist, this event also provided an opportunity for Denis Le Bossé, President of the “ Cabinet ARC ,” and Kérine Tran, General Counsel, to present the latest findings from the “ Cabinet ARC/IFOP Barometer” regarding payment terms, cash flow, and business financing.
Among the topics addressed by the minister was his strong interest in creating a tool to rate companies’ payment terms.
This solution has, in fact, been widely embraced by French companies, as evidenced by the results of the 2020 edition of the “ Cabinet ARC/IFOP Barometer.”
Bruno Le Maire also addressed the concerns businesses have regarding the repayment of state-guaranteed loans (PGE), particularly as restrictions affecting many businesses are being extended. He explains the government’s measures in detail, including the provisions negotiated with the banking sector and the role the government is playing in helping all businesses cope with the current economic situation.
These government-backed loans are indeed a much-needed, if temporary, lifeline, even as the economic crisis linked to the health crisis is causing payment delays between companies in France to worsen, as Kérine Tran points out.
Another key topic in this Cabinet ARC/IFOP Barometer—and one that has recurred in several previous editions—is the reluctance of small and medium-sized enterprises to bid on public contracts, out of fear that they will not be paid on time, thereby jeopardizing their cash flow. The Minister comments on this point.