The consulting firm Gaetano Cavalieri & Co, commissioned by the government, has presented its plan to reorganize Tahitian cultured pearl production and marketing.
The Maison de la Perle is preparing to sign an agreement with the consultant – a move already drawing sharp criticism from industry professionals. The 65 million FCFP (tax excluded) project, with payments scheduled through July 2013, proposes creating the Tahiti Pearl Consortium, a mixed-capital central purchasing organization.
Pearl farmers have raised concerns about:
- Government overreach into what they view as a fragile economic ecosystem
- The consultancy’s high cost
- Potential emergence of a state monopoly threatening commercial independence
Designed to revive a struggling industry, the Tahiti Pearl Consortium proposal has deeply divided stakeholders:
✔ Professionals question its ability to genuinely revitalize the sector
✔ Government officials attempt to reassure about their intentions
This debate highlights the critical economic and political challenges surrounding Polynesian pearl farming’s future.
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