The Réunion Region is turning the page on Act I of its New Economy strategy. The results: €115 million mobilised, 12,000 businesses supported over five years. The focus now shifts to digital transition, energy transition, and a new early-warning system for businesses in difficulty.
A Balance Sheet in Figures
Since 2021, the Region has mobilised €115 million in regional funds and deploys €350 million in annual public procurement to support local businesses. Key programmes include:
- FAIRE: 240 loans granted totalling €30 million, of which 96% went to micro-enterprises;
- KAP TPE: 171 companies assisted, 227 existing jobs maintained, 175 new positions in the pipeline;
- PRIM'EXPORT: 161 companies supported through 271 files, for a total of €2.17 million.
Regional President Huguette Bello summed up the philosophy at the official launch on 12 August 2026: "Behind every programme, women and men are starting businesses, investing, and creating activity."
Three Pillars of Act II
Act II is built around three priorities: anchor, accelerate, gather. In practice, this means:
- Strengthening local production and promoting Réunion's identity industries;
- Stepped-up support for SMEs navigating digital and energy transitions;
- A new e-invoicing assistance system launching by end-2026, to help micro-businesses comply with new legal obligations;
- A reinforced early-intervention programme for businesses in difficulty, to prevent failures before they become irreversible.
A Participatory Approach
Act II was built with economic stakeholders. A regional economic convention was organised, with on-the-ground consultations involving businesses, chambers of commerce, and social partners. Three companies were visited to illustrate the diversity of the local fabric: Australe Béton (decorative, low-carbon concrete), Lé Yabar (agricultural production and processing) and Hôtel Les Géraniums (renovation and tourism upgrading).
Why It Matters
Réunion still posts an unemployment rate of 18% — double the French metropolitan average. In this context, regional public procurement and business support tools serve as a vital economic buffer. Act II arrives at the right moment, as new e-invoicing requirements and energy transition pressures risk falling hardest on the smallest structures without proper support. The trajectory set by Huguette Bello aims to turn constraint into opportunity.
Source: journal.re, imazpress.com, 12 August 2026.