Five years on, Réunion's New Economy programme has surpassed its initial targets: €115 million deployed, 12,000 businesses supported and €350 million in annual public procurement. The Réunion Region is now launching Act II, built around three strategic orientations: anchor, accelerate and unite.
A scorecard that exceeded expectations
Since 2021, the Réunion Region has rolled out 14 economic support schemes for local businesses, mobilising €115 million from its own resources. The outcome: over 12,000 Réunion businesses supported — a figure that significantly outpaced initial objectives.
Among the most widely used tools: the FAIRE loan scheme, which delivered 240 loans totalling €30 million, with 96% going to micro-businesses. The KAP TPE scheme supported 171 companies, securing 227 existing jobs while projecting 175 new ones. PRIM'EXPORT processed 271 files for 161 businesses, with €2.17 million disbursed to support regional and international market development.
€350 million in local public procurement annually
The Region maintains an annual commitment of €350 million in regional public procurement, directed as a priority toward local businesses. This remains one of the most direct levers for supporting the entrepreneurial fabric — particularly in construction, public services and the creative economy.
Export momentum is also building: PRIM'EXPORT has opened doors for Réunion SMEs into regional markets including Madagascar, Mauritius and Mayotte, progressively anchoring the island in the Indian Ocean economy.
Act II: artificial intelligence and streamlined access
President Huguette Bello structured the new phase around three axes. Anchor: strengthen local production and creative industries. Accelerate: support businesses adapting to artificial intelligence and robotisation — an existential challenge for many micro-enterprises that risk being left behind without transition support. Unite: simplify access to regional aid and strengthen mechanisms for preventing business failures.
A dedicated e-invoicing support scheme will also be launched before end-2026, anticipating upcoming legal obligations for smaller businesses.
Why it matters
In an island where 51,422 households are on social housing waiting lists and unemployment remains structurally high, the SME fabric is the primary economic shock absorber. New Economy Act II bets on upskilling these businesses as a resilience engine — a strategy that positions Réunion not as a recipient of assistance, but as an active driver of its own economic transformation.
Sources: Outremers360, Imazpress, Parallelesud — August 2026