French Polynesia

Introduction

French Polynesia is an overseas collectivity of the French Republic. It comprises five archipelagos (Society, Tuamotu, Marquesas, Gambier and Australs). French Polynesia is spread over more than 5.3 million square kilometres, approximately the size of Europe. It is located in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean, approximately 6,000 kilometres east of Australia and 7,500 kilometres west of Chile. French Polynesia’s main island, Tahiti, became a French protectorate in 1842, and France took possession of French Polynesia as a whole in 1880.

French Polynesia – Foreign Relations

French Polynesia maintains close ties with other Pacific island countries and territories, particularly its near Polynesian neighbors through their Polynesian Leaders’ Group, trading partnerships and other links.

French Polynesia is a member of the Pacific Community (SPC), the South Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP), the Pacific Islands Development Program (PIDP), and the South Pacific Tourism Organization (SPTO).

In 2016, leaders decided to admit French Polynesia as a full member of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).

French Polynesia – Fiji Relations

French Polynesia maintains minimal regional contact except with other French entities, New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna.

Fiji’s trade with French Polynesia is negligible. This could be attributed to several reasons such as distance and remoteness and the fact that its major trading partner is France.

Opportunities For Fiji With Republic Of Palau

Potential area for cooperation: Like Fiji, French Polynesia thrives on tourism and our struggles against the retention of the tourism dollar and sustainable or nature based tourism are some areas we can begin to look into in our cooperation for the future of our islands and the livelihoods of our peoples.

Language and sports are also attractive avenues given the need and the on-going engagements in these areas.