Talents du lixe – Interview with Marie-Guite Dufay, President of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Region

Marie-Guite Dufay, you are the President of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Region and you had participated in the Luxury Summit in 2019 on the theme of “The Factory of Emotion”. Since then, thanks to the support of the Region, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté has become a partner of the Luxury Centre and will host the Luxury Talents on 7 June 2022. What does this mean to you?

In Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, we have a “Luxury and exceptional know-how” sector which, despite its discretion, remains strategic. It brings together more than 450 companies employing 15,000 people and a thousand craftsmen. It is as many economic activities, jobs and development for the territories, especially rural ones. Bourgogne-Franche-Comté produces objects that are distributed all over the world and for the great French and Swiss luxury houses. If these activities need discretion to flourish, consumers need to know their origins. And behind the objects are passionate people and know-how that are expressed on a daily basis, through trades that we must absolutely preserve and perpetuate.

So this first regional edition of the Talents of Luxury and Creation is, in my opinion, both a recognition of our region and one of the solutions to put the spotlight on these companies, these trades, these women and men for whom excellence is their daily life.

How does the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region stand out on the French and international luxury scene?

Thanks to its history and traditions, whether in watchmaking or in the art of hospitality, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté is perfectly in tune with the times. Our region is a preserved setting of nature and tradition, technology and innovation. Not only are our companies present in all the major luxury sectors, but they are developing their activities throughout the value chain: from the transformation of the material to distribution.

Our region stands out for its support for companies and players in the fields of training, research and innovation. Our regional ecosystem is open to the international market, yet its activities are firmly rooted in the local area. We are committed to supporting companies in their actions in favour of the ecological and energy transition, integration and training in order to continue to include these companies in the long term.

Beautiful family success stories perpetuate age-old know-how. We are happy to create a fertile ground for the future around them.