Reunion Island, Your Future!
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REGIONAL AGENCY FOR DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENT AND INNOVATION Reunion Island, your future! [email protected] www.investinreunion.re Investor's Guide // CONTENTS 2 SECTORS OF EXCELLENCE IN REUNION # Sector overview # Sector-specific aid # Stakeholders and partners Tourism Digital technology P72 P88 Agri-food Renewable energy & the environment Contents P4-69 P108 P 124 1 REUNION, 3 QUALITY OF LIFE IN REUNION P 138 YOUR IDEAL BUSINESS DESTINATION # Europe in the heart of the Indian Ocean ................................................................p8 # World-class facilities .................................................................................................. p12 # Reunion, a centre for excellence in training, research, NEXA, FUTURE development & innovation ........................................................................................ p30 4 # Extremely attractive investment conditions ...................................................... p52 PROJECTS ACCELERATOR P 142 2 3 Investor's Guide // LA RÉUNION, YOUR IDEAL BUSINESS DESTINATION REUNION, your ideal business destination 1 4 5 good reasons Europe Quebec China to choose United REUNION ISLAND Arab Emirates India Africa Europe in the heart of the Indian Ocean, Reunion is a French and European region (OR) in the Southern Hemisphere. It is the most affluent economy in the Indian Ocean and an ideal 'stepping stone' to develop your business with Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe. High quality infrastructure Australia and excellent connections providing the island with a permanent gateway to the rest of the world. LOCATION Extremely attractive investment conditions SAINT-DENIS Mascarene Archipelago, Indian Ocean 55°30’ East - 21°15’ South Up to 3 million euros in Le Port GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE investment aid! Surface area: 2,512 km² Saint-André Climate: temperate tropical A stable, secure and modern business environment Saint-Paul PROFILE Official name: Reunion Island French and European standards applied at Status: single department region all levels, solid political and legal systems Saint-Benoît of the French Republic, outermost region underpinning monetary stability. Reunion of the European Union (OR) Administrative arrangements: 1 region, 1 depart- Island ment, 24 municipalities, 5 Inter-municipal A centre of excellence cooperation associations (EPCI) in training and research Capital: Saint Denis Language: French European-standard training in all disciplines and levels of expertise, outstanding research DEMOGRAPHY and innovation capacity in tropical zones. Population: 852,657 (2016) Saint-Louis Annual population growth: 1.1% (2016) "If recent population trends continue, the popula- tion of Reunion will reach 1.071 million by 1 January Saint-Pierre GDP 2050. In fact, the island's population should exceed Setting up your business in Reunion growth rate is also about enjoying an outstanding Surface area in current 1 million by 2037*" GDP per capita currency values *Source: Insee *Source: lifestyle all-year-round in one ECONOMY of the jewels of UNESCO world 2,512 54,725 3.2% Nominal GDP: €18.53 bn (2017) heritage. A pleasant tropical climate, Population €21,500 businesses GDP per capita: €21,500 (2017) one of the few active volcanoes 2 Nominal GDP km (2017) (in 2016 GDP growth rate: 3.2% (2017), in in the world, unique protected according to current currency values landscapes forming one of France's 852,657 NEXTSTAT) Key sectors for economic development identified by 18.53 11 national parks and cultural melting- (2016) the Regional Council: billion € Renewable Energy (RE) & the Environment, Tourism, pot making for warm and welcoming (2017) Food Industry and Digital Technology local people. 6 7 Investor's Guide // EUROPE, IN THE HEART OF THE INDIAN OCEAN A stable, secure and modern EUROPE, business environment in the heart of the Indian Ocean # POLITICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS Reunion is a French single Department Region (DROM) and an Outlying Region of the European Union (OR). French laws and regulations, together with European Community Law, apply automatically and can be supplemented by specific or derogatory provisions reflecting the unique characteristics and constraints specific to the island. Just like other French overseas regional and Departmental administrations, Reunion has a single departmental set-up. The Prefect and Regional Council are based in the island's capital, Saint Denis. Reunion, # GUARANTEED FRENCH AND EUROPEAN STANDARDS In terms of health facilities, transport, housing and services, Reunion has a French and similar provisions to other French regions. European territory Reunion is also a safe place to live. In terms of public health, French and European standards apply at all levels, for health facilities, catering or housing. Cutting-edge public health and specialist facilities, such as Reunion is a French and European region Reunion University Hospital (CHU), mean that all medical treatment needs located in the Mascarene Archipelago, in the can be met on the island. Indian Ocean. This Outlying region (OR) of the European Union lies close to Africa and Its geographical location has also led the island to take specific measures offers a safe, secure and modern environment for construction, public health and protecting biodiversity that surpass to develop your business ventures. standards in mainland Europe. These provisions account for its tropical island context, making it a real centre of excellence. Reunion belongs to the Euro zone and operates on the French political system and # MONETARY ENVIRONMENT administrative arrangements. This provides a cast-iron guarantee of monetary, political and As Reunion is part of the Euro zone, it is a stable place macro-economically social stability. The island has a transparent speaking, with a high-quality banking market. legislative framework and has adopted the common law system with special provisions The banking environment in Reunion is modern, reliable and connected to the or derogations to account for an individual's main financial groups. It provides the necessary means to develop economic personal circumstances. activity and support household consumption. (see pages 56-57: "Financial Operators in Reunion" ) Being a both a French and an Outlying Region enables Reunion to access a range of French and European programmes to support economic activity. All the various facilities provided in Reunion meet European standards and all related services are very high-quality. 8 9 Investor's Guide // EUROPE, IN THE HEART OF THE INDIAN OCEAN Reunion's A geostrategic position unique geographical location, in the heart of the Indian Ocean its OR status, and its pace-setting Reunion is 200 km away from neighbouring Mauritius, some 800 km from Madagascar and 2,000 km from Africa. It occupies centre stage in this area environment offer of the South West Indian Ocean; a mainland and island hub. a host of competitive Over the last few years, Reunion has forged strong ties with several African countries (South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius, etc.) advantages and regional integration and cooperation organisations such as COMESA to access economic (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa) and SADC (Southern African Development Community). Reunion is a member of the Indian Ocean markets in Community (IOC) which also includes the Seychelles, Mauritius, Madagascar and the Comoros. the Indian Ocean region. As a European region mainly surrounded by African countries, including numerous emerging economies, Reunion is integral to the implementation You'll find of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between the European Union (EU) and the ACP group countries (Africa, Caribbean and Pacific). As these all the assurances agreements redefine the terms and conditions for trade between the EU borders and ACP countries, they have a direct impact on the economic and conditions integration process in the Indian Ocean region, a zone in which Reunion is you need here a key player. These bonds are forged in different frameworks, including decentralised to make a success cooperation agreements signed between Reunion Regional Council and of your investments. foreign regions, as well as trade or partnerships between private economic entities, multilateral ventures to address common challenges to countries in the area (climatic risks, food security, health, preserving biodiversity, maritime safety and military cooperation, etc.). Reunion/Mauritius HUB 10 11 Investor's Guide // WORLD-CLASS FACILITIES World-class Transport infrastructure FACILITIES at the crossroads between Asia/America and Europe/Africa Roland Garros Pointe des Galets Airport Port Reunion Port of Sainte Marie main seaport GPMDLR Roland Garros Airport Freight terminal Saint Gilles les Bains port Pierrefonds Airport Port of Saint Pierre 12 13 Investor's Guide // WORLD-CLASS FACILITIES Ports REUNION'S MAIN SEA PORT (GPMDLR) Airports GPMDLR is Reunion’s main sea port. It lies at a crossroads of major shipping routes and a strategic point to split cargo for ongoing distribution throughout the Indian Ocean. As the leading REUNION ROLAND GARROS AIRPORT French overseas port, GPMDLR is experiencing steady growth. The GPMDLR sea port is the only one of France's ports to combine a Reunion Roland Garros Airport is located on the north coast of the ferry/cruise terminal, naval base, marina and fishing port, as well as island, in the municipality of Sainte Marie. Being so close to the capital, being a strategic hub in the Indian Ocean