A first in the economic history of France's overseas territories. The Choose Outre-Mer summit, held in early October 2026 at the initiative of Overseas Minister Naïma Moutchou, brought together more than 150 French and international companies around a single goal: moving from aid to productive investment. For Mayotte, the outcome is concrete — €12 million committed across three projects in three sectors critical to the island's reconstruction.
Three Projects, Three Levers for Mayotte
The largest commitment comes from Réunion-based Océinde group, which is investing €6.2 million to rebuild the Mauvilac paint and coatings factory in Mayotte. An essential local industrial asset destroyed by recent climate events, it will regain autonomous production capacity.
Kumulus Water is pledging €4.3 million under the IEE Mayotte programme, deploying its alternative water production technology — a critical solution in a territory where access to drinking water remains a structural challenge.
The third strand, led by Habit'Âme, mobilises €1.5 million for a production school and a plastic pyrolysis unit — addressing both youth unemployment and waste management, two of Mayotte's deepest social challenges.
A Broader Signal for Overseas Territories
Beyond Mayotte's figures, Choose Outre-Mer generated close to €6 billion in national commitments across more than one hundred projects. Target sectors — energy transition, infrastructure, blue economy, digital — outline an agenda of deep transformation. Bpifrance launched a dedicated Growth Accelerator for fifteen Mahoran SMEs, while the Outre-mer One impact fund closed its first round at €34 million.
"A genuine strategy of productive investment" — that is how the government described the philosophy of the summit, whose next edition is set for New Caledonia in early 2027.
Why It Matters
For Mayotte, emerging from a decade marked by health, migration and climate crises, the stakes are far from symbolic. These three projects mean local jobs, a resilient industrial base and vital infrastructure. They also signal to investors that the island — often seen as a high-risk territory — can be a viable place to invest, provided the state honours its commitments over time.