INDIA SEEKS MARKETS

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30057, 15 February 1963, Page 11

INDIA SEEKS MARKETS

Commissioner’s

Review

The new High Commissioner for India in Australia and New Zealand (Mr B. K. Massand), making his first visit to the South Island, said yesterday that India’s approaching self-sufficiency in some lines promised more and more goods for export, and its overseas offices were v.gorously seeking new markets. Both our countries are passing through this phase of diversifying our markets, and I see no reason why present examinations of products we can exchange should not be profitable to both.” he said. India was now in the second year of its third fiveyear plan, Mr Massand said. The first plan concentrated on the development of agriculture, transport, and power: the second on heavy industry, transport, and communications; the third showed prospects of etifsufficiency in flood grains, a self-generating economy, and more exports.

Light engineering was succeeding so well that snail electric motors, sewing machines, fans, and textdie machinery were now being sold to many countries, including the tough United States market, which absorbed 35,000 machines last year.

"The big problem at present is to gauge markets ao that production can be adjusted accocdangiy,” aaid Mr Massand, India’s confidence in the future and its desire to adept modern methods was shown by the fact that the first atomic power should be generated in India soon.

Possibly the most farreaehmg aspect of the third five-year plan was the proposal to offer free and compulsory educatjte to all children from six to 11 years of age. “R is an enormous task as there are 45.000,000 children in that age group,” said Mr Maesand.