France has agreed to give French Polynesia 13 million US dollars a year to help pay assistance to the poor through its RSPF fund.
The Prime Minister of France, Manuel Valls and French Polynesia's President Edouard Fritch sign the agreement under which France has extended funds to assist the poor. Photo: Supplied
An agreement to that end was signed in Paris by the French prime minister, Manuel Valls, and the president of French Polynesia, Edouard Fritch.
The 13 million US dollar transfer will be made for each of the next three budgets.
The territory's social assistance fund has budgetted 35 million US dollars for 2014 for an estimated 80,000 beneficiaries who make up about a third of the population.
Mr Valls says the help from Paris helps French Polynesia adopt reforms while Mr Fritch says the overseas territories are not asking for help but want justice and dignity.
In 2008, France had stopped its contribution to the RSPF fund.
French Polynesia has never adopted the French benefit system despite it suffering a far higher unemployment rate than France.
French Polynesia President Edouard Fritch speaks following the agreement with France over funds to assist the poor. Photo: Supplied
