Tahiti calls for end to French Pacific franc
Updated
The French Polynesian cabinet has been asked to speed up the introduction of the euro to replace the local currency.
Oceania Flash reports the minister for economy, Guy Lejeune, has told cabinet that replacing the French Pacific franc with the euro would bring "confidence, security and ease" to economic stakeholders.
The minister also stressed that the local franc is "unknown to the rest of the world" and that a switch to the euro would boost trade and tourism.
The euro replaced the French francs in metropolitan France in 2002.
Mr Lejeune says nothing had been done since the local legislative assembly voted to introduce the euro three years ago.
He says a letter will be sent to the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, and the leaders of other French Pacific territories about the possibility of change.
Introducing the euro in the three French Pacific countries and territories of New Caledonia, French Polynesia, and Wallis and Futuna requires a joint request to the French government and European authorities in Brussels.
