This week, French Polynesia is hosting a landmark event: the auction of 600,000 pearls, drawing dozens of international buyers and high-profile officials, including three ministers, the President of French Polynesia, and a Pacific Islands Forum delegation. The gathering underscores the critical role of the pearl sector in the local economy.
A High-Stakes Auction
📍 Venue: GIE Poe o Tahiti Nui (former Maison de la Perle)
🌏 Global Competition: Pacific nations vie for a share of the global pearl market
📜 Policy Shift: Minister of the Blue Economy Teva Rohfritsch announced a new territorial law to restructure the industry, focusing on:
✔ Quality standards
✔ Production and inventory management
✔ Island-based concession reforms
By the Numbers
💎 GIE Poe o Tahiti Nui: 223,000 pearls (190 lots)
💎 Robert Wan: ~100,000 pearls (388 lots)
💎 GIE Poe o Rikitea: 293,000 pearls (645 lots)
“Auctions remain the best way to ensure fair value, far from informal sales,” emphasizes Élisabeth Moe, President of GIE Poe o Tahiti Nui.
Industry Calls for Action
🔊 Pearl Farmers’ Demands:
- Increased international promotion
- More funding for global marketing
🏛 Government’s Stance:
Prioritizes structural reforms before launching new promotional campaigns.
Buyers & Market Outlook
✈ Key Buyers: Primarily from Japan and Hong Kong
📉 Challenges:
- Price drops for mid-grade pearls
- Global market volatility
The future of Tahitian pearls hinges on quality control and adapting to global trends. As bids unfold, Polynesia’s pearl industry stands at a crossroads—balancing tradition with the demands of a competitive luxury market.
(This auction could set the tone for the sector’s revival—or reveal the need for deeper transformation.)
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