The French overseas minister Annick Girardin says the fight against the high cost of living in France's overseas territories has to be a national priority.
Noumea bank Photo: RNZ Walter Zweifel
Her comments came as France is being roiled by weekly rallies over falling living standards.
The protest of the so-called yellow vest movement paralysed la Reunion for days in December but in the French Pacific the movement only has few followers.
However, protests against the high cost of living in New Caledonia have mobilised huge crowds over the past decade.
Ms Girardin said an inter-ministerial delegate on competitiveness will visit each of France's territories.
She said she wanted an assessment of how markets for imports and the distribution of consumer goods work.
She also said economic support to businesses won't be extended unless there is a return in the form of employment.