Managing regions

In order to develop a region, one has to take into account the short, medium and long-term views. The short-term view means to react rapidly when confronted with a crisis. The medium-term view requires formulation of development policies ; and the long-term view requires anticipation of important changes in our society as a result of prospective analyses. Nevertheless, taking into account the time factor alone, however important that may be, is not enough on its own to form a regional development policy. One should also establish organisations, such as advisory committees, to discuss how to initiate feasible projects, to know how to react collectively so that all those involved agree with the projects and, finally, to reserve a dynamic role for the State and its regional representative in the drafting of important development policies. All these factors are complementary : it is important to have an agreement between them all to achieve good results, regardless of the regions in question. It is true that there are never regions without a future, only regions without projects.