CESC President Highlights Industry Resilience at Unsubsidized Sales Event
In a strong show of support for Polynesia’s pearl industry, Madame Raymonde Raoulx, President of the Economic, Social, and Cultural Council (CESC), attended the year’s second international pearl auction organized by the GIE Poe O Rikitea at Sofitel Maeva Beach. The event showcased harvests from 40+ pearl farmers across the Tuamotu and Gambier archipelagos, united under five Economic Interest Groups (GIEs).
Key Auction Highlights
- 392 lots offered with an estimated total value of 450 million XPF (≈€3.8M)
- International buyers from Japan, U.S., Hong Kong, Canada, Hawai‘i, and mainland France
- Standout piece: An 18mm semi-round “C-grade” pearl from Rikitea with rare red-green iridescence, drawing collector frenzy
Financial Impact & Autonomy
💎 Self-funded success: Zero public subsidies, with 300+ million XPF (≈€2.5M) generated in two days
💎 Day 1 revenue: 126 million XPF (≈€1M)
💎 Tax benefits: ~20 million XPF (≈€168K) for French Polynesia’s treasury
Accompanied by Georges Mataoa (CESC pearl producers’ representative), Raoulx emphasized:
“This auction proves our farmers can compete globally without state intermediation. Their collective effort sustains a vital economic sector.”
Industry at a Crossroads
The event underscored:
✅ Farmer empowerment: GIEs bypass traditional channels like the Maison de la Perle
✅ Market demand: Strong prices despite global luxury slowdown
✅ Cultural legacy: Preserving Polynesia’s pearl heritage through direct trade
“These sales aren’t just transactions—they’re lifelines for our atoll communities,” noted a Rikitea farmer.
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