The First Overseas Economic Conference have opened a joint reflection on the levers for development of the eleven overseas territories.
For Alain Di Crescenzo, president of CCI France, the challenge is to shift perspectives: “I’m always told about the difficulties of remoteness or cost, never about what the overseas territories bring to the table.” The discussions aim to move from “I” to “we” and identify concrete actions to create more value and jobs. The choice of Saint-Martin to host these conferences has fostered “a genuine understanding and a shared vision,” according to Angèle Dormoy. The president of the CCISM (Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Services and Trades of Saint-Martin) emphasizes that the territory must embrace its role as a bridge between France, Europe, and the Caribbean, “without trying to replicate a metropolitan model.” Patrick Vial-Collet, president of ACCIOM (Association of French Overseas Territories), calls for “telling the truth”: certain legislative, even European, adjustments don’t necessarily require additional resources, but rather adaptations to unlock the economic potential of the overseas territories. A white paper summarizing the proposals from the thematic workshops will be presented in Saint-Martin and Paris to inform future national policy.
