Réunion Island has taken a structural step in its digital transformation strategy. On 18 February 2026, Regional President Huguette Bello signed the Digital Industry Contract 2026-2028, a framework document co-constructed over nearly two years with public and private players from Réunion's digital ecosystem. Réunion THD, La Réunion Développement, Solidarnum, Digital Réunion and France Travail are among the signatories.
Four Pillars for a Fully Connected Island
The contract is structured around four strategic pillars. The first targets the reduction of digital inequalities, with the objective of supporting 10,000 users towards digital autonomy by 2028 and improving access to online public services — in a territory where the digital divide remains a pressing reality for a significant share of the population.
The second pillar focuses on economic development: supporting the digital transformation of 8,000 micro-enterprises and SMEs, which make up more than 90% of Réunion's productive fabric, and organising or hosting a regional digital trade fair to position Réunion as a reference hub in the Indian Ocean basin.
Environmental Responsibility and Data Governance
The third pillar addresses the ecological transition of digital technologies, aiming to implement a responsible digital strategy and limit the environmental impact of infrastructure — an increasingly pressing challenge as digital energy consumption surges globally. The fourth pillar is dedicated to data governance and artificial intelligence: structuring smart territory projects, creating a trusted data hub and establishing territorial data governance.
For Huguette Bello, this contract embodies «the will to make digital technology a lever for equitable and sustainable development for all Réunion residents.» It builds on efforts made since 2021 under the New Economy initiative, under which more than 12,000 companies have already been supported or financed and €115 million mobilised.
An Exemplary Co-Construction Process
From March 2024 to April 2025, five digital industry committees and collective intelligence workshops brought together all stakeholders: local authorities, state services, businesses, training organisations and inclusion structures. This participatory method sets Réunion's Digital Industry Contract apart from traditional digital master plans, typically designed without grassroots involvement.
Why This Matters
In an outermost region where companies pay more for connectivity and access digital skills with greater difficulty than on the mainland, this contract offers a concerted action framework through 2028. For Réunion's micro-enterprises and SMEs, it represents a concrete opportunity to accelerate their digital transition with solid institutional support. For the local tech ecosystem, it signals an organised reference market and a data governance model that could inspire other island territories across the region.