Saint Martin to be present at La REF 2026
For the first time, a delegation from FIPCOM-MEDEF Saint-Martin is taking part in the Rencontre des Entrepreneurs de France (REF), held on Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 August at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris. This presence is intended to raise the profile of Saint-Martin and its businesses amongst the economic stakeholders present in Paris, as well as to discuss issues common to overseas territories, the opportunities they present, and to develop new partnerships.
Organised by the Movement of French Enterprises (MEDEF), La REF is one of the major economic events of the autumn. More than 13,000 participants were expected to attend the 2026 edition, which takes place less than a year before the presidential and parliamentary elections.
Against a backdrop of mistrust, uncertainty and the temptation to give up, the MEDEF has chosen this year to focus the debates on ‘courage ’: the courage to produce, invest, work, train and reform in order to restore France’s and Europe’s sovereignty. Competitiveness, innovation and transitions, as well as ‘Produce or perish?’ and ‘Are we ready to face war?’, were among the many topics addressed over the two days.
A first Forum dedicated to the Overseas Territories
Whilst the programme focuses largely on major national economic and political priorities, issues specific to the overseas territories will be the subject of a session this Thursday, reserved for MEDEF members. The “1st Overseas Territories Forum on the Presidential Elections”, moderated by Marie-Christine Ponamalé, president and editor-in-chief of Outre-mer 360°, will kick off the series of MEDEF regional forums dedicated to the key challenges facing the territories. Organised by MEDEF’s Overseas Territories Committee, it will provide a key opportunity for dialogue between economic stakeholders in the overseas territories and the overseas representatives of the main candidates in the presidential elections, with a view to comparing visions, proposals and ambitions for the future of the overseas territories.
The forthcoming presidential elections will be a central theme running through these meetings. To bring La REF to a close, seven candidates for the 2027 election – Gabriel Attal, Raphaël Glucksmann, Marine Le Pen, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, Édouard Philippe, Bruno Retailleau and Marine Tondelier – will answer questions from five business leaders and respond to the results of the survey launched by MEDEF in partnership with OpinionWay.
