A regional seminar on entrepreneurship and green and blue financing was held in La Réunion, opening dialogue between public and private sector stakeholders from the member states of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC). This event was organized by the IOC, the Réunion Region through the Maison de l’Export, and Cap Business Indian Ocean as part of the “Entrepreneurship and Business Facilitation in the Indian Ocean” (ENFA-OI) program. The ENFA-OI program is implemented by the IOC with funding from the European Union.

What synergy of action between the public and private sectors can best support regional entrepreneurs? This was the central question debated by participants from Comoros, France, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles. Despite a shared commitment from both sectors to improve the local economic landscape, discussions highlighted gaps in support for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and regional start-ups, particularly in terms of access to information, mentoring, and financing.

This gathering of stakeholders during the seminar paved the way for strategic collaboration aimed at strengthening the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem. “The goal is to leverage the potential of each operator in the program’s priority sectors, namely tourism, seafood products, and cosmetic and medicinal plants, with a particular focus on women and young entrepreneurs,” emphasized Juliette Janin, Project Officer at the IOC General Secretariat.

This exchange facilitated knowledge-sharing between public sector actors—who have in-depth expertise in regulations and policies—and the private sector, which brings hands-on business management experience. Participants put forward several key recommendations, including:

• More frequent discussions and new partnerships between public and private sectors at the regional level within a structured consultation framework consisting of two hubs (public/private).
• Identification, centralization, and sharing of best practices from each territory.
• Practical and targeted training programs for start-ups and MSMEs, with priority given to youth and women-led businesses.
• Promotion and capacity-building of companies operating in the tourism, seafood products, and cosmetic and medicinal plant sectors.
• Adoption of a 2024 regional training plan as part of the ENFA-OI program.
• Simplified and supported mobility between the islands of the Indian Ocean.

The ENFA-OI program, the Maison de l’Export, and Cap Business Indian Ocean reaffirmed their commitment to supporting and strengthening the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem. This includes tailored training programs co-developed with stakeholders and scheduled for implementation starting in 2024, as well as the organization of new dialogues and working sessions between the public and private sectors.