regional outcast
p. 54 · Read in the full issue
No longer a regional outcast
ONE of the most pleasing devel opments in the Pacific over the past few years has been the way the French territories have opened up politically and economically to their neighbours. For years, the bitter issues of independence for New Caledonia and nuclear testing in French Poly nesia kept both territories in a state akin to that of regional outcasts.
Everyone agrees that the long period
of isolation they suffered was in
nobody’s interest.
It did not help New Caledonia, where internal differences which spilled over into bloodshed were bad enough. Es tranged from its neighbours, the terri tory became introverted a piece of France thousands of miles away from home wrestling with an identity crisis that had no predictable outcome.
It did not help French Polynesia, its own latent independence issues subju
gated to the role of host to a nuclear testing programme few local people liked but depended upon for their economic well
being.
France found itself pilloried on the international stage, including in the United Nations, on both counts. It was seen to be an intransigent colonial power at a time the rest of the world was granting independence to its territories and deaf to growing international environmental concerns.
France had to defend itself at the United Nations as the South Pacific Forum countries moved in 1986 to have New Caledonia inscribed on the list of non-self governing territories. And it came under increasing international fire as the New Zealand Labour government’s anti-nuclear policy focused worldwide attention on nuclear issues.
New Zealand and Australia found themselves at logger heads with one of the world’s major powers, one with huge influence in Europe, where important economic interests offered a disturbing potential for instability in the Pacific an added worry, especially for New Zealand, whose nearest neighbour is New Caledonia.
It’s good news all round then that such harmony exists today, with France’s continuing moratorium on testing at Mururoa and New Caledonia peaceful under the Matignon Accords.
From New Zealand’s point of view, relations are good and growing, as will be shown when Trade Negotiations Minister Philip Burdon leads a trade and investment mission of business leaders to both territories this month.
It is significant that it was not just a political decision to focus New Zealand’s continuing trade drive on the French possessions at this time. The business leaders themselves nominated them as their choice for particular attention following a successful mission to their biggest Pacific markets, Fiji and Papua New Guinea, last year.
The attraction is obvious. Both territories are wealthy by Pacific island standards, with per capita incomes of about NZ525,000 each, and both are heading into a period of
economic development that promises
increased prosperity and a higher level of imports.
France is ploughing billions of dollars into each territory over the next five years to build up their infrastructures and develop the tour ism, fishing and agricultural indus tries.
Most significantly, the Paris gov ernment after keeping both very much tied to France’s apron strings for years has taken a policy decision to open up their markets to South Pacific neighbours and to encourage closer economic ties with New Zealand and Australia.
France has effectively ended the monopoly control it exercised over
both colonial economies which are now seeking integration with the rest of the region and looking to New Zealand and Australia as long-term partners, says Bruno Fremy, TradeNZ trade development manager in Noumea, who has responsi bility for both territories.
There are already encouraging signs. New Zealand’s sales to French Polynesia rose a dramatic 41 per cent last year to top $lO4 million, making it the third biggest Pacific market after Fiji ($lB7 million) and Papua New Guinea ($llO
million).
Exports to New Caledonia jumped 14 per cent to $67 million, putting it in fifth place after Western Samoa, whose purchases declined seven per cent to $B4 million in 1993.
Burdon has identified building and construction, furniture
and furnishings, marine products, clothing, educational
services and agri-tech as industry sectors with particular potential for New Zealand exporters.
This underlines the fact that in New Caledonia, contrary to the pattern of most of New Zealand’s markets, the trade is not dominated by food and beverages, manufactured products holding an equal share of about one-third.
This is mainly because New Caledonia unlike French Polynesia, for instance is self-sufficient in fruit and vegetables in some months of the year. Additionally, manufactured exports grew rapidly after New Caledonia
began liberalising imports in early 1992.
Fremy sees big opportunity in tourism expansion, with new hotels and resorts planned to cater for charter flights from Europe which are expected to bring in an extra 10,000 visitors a year. □