Malaysian Interest In Canterbury Products

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30586, 31 October 1964, Page 21

Malaysian Interest In Canterbury Products

[Specially written for "The Press" by WILLIAM CAMPBELL] SINGAPORE, Oct 26. Canterbury manufacturers in New Zealand’s first Government —sponsored trade mission to South-east Asia are so pleased at the way some of their goods are selling in Malaysia that they are already planning follow-up visits here. The mission made more sales and agency arrangements in Kuala Lumpur than expected by the most optimistic members, and expects even more business in Singapore, Malaysia’s main trade and commerical centre. Nearly half the manufacturers represented In the mission are from Canterbury, including Mr R. H. Stewart, the deputy-leader under Mr L. R. Adams-Schneider, Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Ministers of Industries and Commerce and of Customs.

Mr Stewart, a past-president of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation and a present council member, explaining this Canterbury interest, said: “Canterbury manufacturers are particularly progressive and enthusiastically want to exnort.” Mr Stewart said the range, quality, and competitive nrices of New Zealand goods had surprised Malaysian importers and traders. He said he was confident of an expanding market for New Zealand-made goods here. “There is a big market for me,” he said. “We’re planning to follow this mission up” The mission’s secretary, Mr R. T. Alston, secretary also of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association for the last 27 years, said that the

Canterbury interests had all received some orders here. “They are fully aware that competition in some cases is fierce. They have faced this, and marginal costing has brought results. “They are very enthusiastic over the whole trip. Some have already indicated that they wish to return in a follow-up delegation,’’ he said. He added that the mission members had been particularly impressed by the friendliness and help they had received from the businessmen they had met here. The goods sold by the Christchurch firms include shoes, heavy cranes, all types of pumps, potatoes, deer byproducts and stainless-steel products. The firms have told Malaysian importers and traders that they are fully prepared to alter of modify their range of products to suit local requirements and uses. Besides spot sales there have been arrangements for further samples and business. The coming months will see the conclusion, too, of several agency agreements. Now in Singapore after a week in Kuala Lumpur the mission members are finishing business dealings begun earlier in the Federal capital besides transacting much new business. The mission will leave here for Bangkok on October 31, for a stay before going to Hong Kong and Manila.