Cyclone Chido swept across Mayotte with violent winds and torrential rain, causing extensive material damage. Imprimah, based in Kawéni since 1995, saw part of its 800 square meter premises damaged: roofs blown off, cladding destroyed, solar panels torn off and offset machines flooded despite preventive measures.
Imprimah's 36 employees are currently out of work. While some of them are protecting the infrastructure to prevent looting, the company is facing problems of access to water and electricity. With annual sales of 2.5 million euros, the printing works has to overcome losses estimated at 700,000 euros, including unusable stocks of paper and ink.
For nearly thirty years, Imprimah has played a central role in Mayotte's economic and cultural landscape. The company offers a wide range of offset and digital services, from local press to commercial and administrative publications. Regular investment in modern equipment and the training of its teams have helped to establish its reputation. The partial destruction of its infrastructure represents a significant loss for the region.
Christophe Perez, former vice-president of the local MEDEF, calls for strong government intervention. The forthcoming visit of the Head of State has raised hopes of the cancellation of state-guaranteed loans (PGE) for companies already in a fragile state before the cyclone. Without appropriate aid, the survival of many economic structures seems compromised.
