Reunion : an island of contrasts

The sea and the mountains, the smoothness of the beaches and an active volcano : such are the contrasts of Reunion. One quarter of the working population receive minimum benefit payment and they rub shoulders with entrepreneurs of international standing. Africa and India are geographical neighbours, but the island belongs firmly to the European Union. An economy based on new technologies is developing alongside that founded on the tradition of sugar and peaches. Reunion receives numerous subsidies from central government, but the local culture recognises the value of hard work. In citing these contrasting factors, Guy Dupont outlines a way which will allow the island to continue its development. It consists of encouraging companies and entrepreneurs from Reunion to become much more outward-looking, it develops a policy which supports expanding specialities, it ends institutional organisation, and makes Reunion a European model for countries in the Indian Ocean.