The Réunion Region has launched Act II of its New Economy strategy, following a positive initial assessment since 2021: over 12,000 businesses supported, €115 million mobilised, and 14 programmes deployed. The focus now shifts to three new pillars to accelerate the local business fabric.
Results that exceeded initial targets
Launched in 2021, Réunion's New Economy strategy aimed to reduce dependence on imports and strengthen local production. The published assessment exceeds initial targets. The FAIRE programme (business loans) distributed €30 million to 240 beneficiaries, 96% of which were micro-enterprises. The KAP TPE scheme maintained 227 existing jobs and anticipates the creation of 175 new positions within supported companies.
On the international front, PRIM'EXPORT supported 161 Réunion businesses in their export development, processing 271 project files and allocating €2.17 million — a strong signal that Réunion's SMEs are looking beyond metropolitan France.
€350 million in annual public procurement directed locally
One of the most powerful levers of the scheme remains regional public procurement: €350 million per year is committed to regional projects that directly benefit local businesses. This represents a major economic anchor for construction, services and digital players on the island.
The three pillars of Act II
Act II is built around three priorities. First pillar: anchoring local production, by intensifying efforts on food, industrial and service sectors that can substitute for imports. Second pillar: accelerating business growth, particularly by strengthening financing tools for businesses crossing the growth threshold (5 to 20 employees). Third pillar: establishing structured dialogue with SMEs through a Regional Economic Convention, to co-design the next support programmes with businesses on the ground.
Why it matters
Réunion remains one of the French territories with the highest unemployment rates (around 17%) and a structurally high dependence on imports. The New Economy Act II represents one of the rare regional plans combining both significant financial firepower and concrete performance indicators. If the bet on import substitution and export development holds over time, it could become a model for other island economies in the Indian Ocean.
Source: Réunion Region / Parallèle Sud, August 2026.