The Jura was not in the race to host the new Rolex production site. According to the Jura Economic Promotion, there has been no contact with the watchmaking group which has chosen to set up in Bulle in the canton of Friborg by 2029. Information revealed on Monday by the RTS. Some 2,000 jobs will thus be created on 100,000m2. The choice of location, far from the traditional watchmaking strongholds, must in particular make it possible to respond to the lack of skilled labor affecting the Jura Arc. “We ask ourselves the question: why Bulle? Why the Friborg region? We can understand these explanations even if we do not know what the labor market will be in 2029 when the project will be under roof”, reacts Lionel Socchi, delegate for Economic Promotion of the canton of Jura.
Too much surface
“The canton of Jura would not have refused such a project”, affirms Lionel Socchi. However, the area on which Rolex will set up in Bulle, ie 100,000m2, was not immediately available in the Jura. “Only one area could meet these criteria, the micro-regional business area in Glovelier”, in the medium or even long term, specifies the delegate for Economic Promotion.
Richemont will create 100 jobs in Glovelier
If the new Rolex production site does not concern the Jura, Lionel Socchi nevertheless announced on RFJ good news for the Jura economy. “We can say with virtual certainty that the Richemont group is going to set up in Glovelier. Steps are underway for the purchase of land in the micro-regional activity zone”, explains the delegate for the economic promotion of the Jura. Some 100 jobs will thus be created by the end of the works scheduled for 2025. / mmi