French Polynesia's Minister of the Blue Economy, Teva Rohfritsch, met Monday with Johnny Cheng, President of the Tahitian Pearl Association of Hong Kong (TPAHK), and Ida Wong, Director of the organization dedicated to promoting Tahitian cultured pearls in the Chinese market.

Hong Kong: A Strategic Hub

• Represented over 50% of Tahitian pearl export volume in 2014
• Hosts four major annual pearl trade events, cementing its role as a global marketplace

Key Discussion Points

📊 2014 Review & 2015 Strategy

• Assessment of past promotional campaigns
• Outline of 2015 marketing plan, developed with the Tahiti Pearl Association of French Polynesia (TPAFP)

💰 Financial Support Requested

TPAHK seeks additional funding from French Polynesia to:

• Strengthen Tahitian pearls' presence in China
• Target both jewelry professionals and consumers

🌍 Market Diversification Urged

Cheng advocated for expanded promotion in:

• United States
• Europe

Goal: Revitalize Tahitian pearls' global image despite current jewelry sector challenges

Why It Matters

As China's economic slowdown impacts luxury demand, this meeting highlights:

✅ Commitment to Hong Kong as a critical distribution hub

✅ Need for adaptive marketing strategies

✅ Importance of public-private partnerships in sustaining the pearl industry

Next Steps: The French Polynesian government will evaluate funding requests while exploring new international campaigns.

(Context: Tahitian pearls account for ~85% of French Polynesia's non-tourism exports.)