TRADE WITH SWISS

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31042, 23 April 1966, Page 18

TRADE WITH SWISS

Bigger Exports By N.Z.

“New Zealand exports to Switzerland have more than doubled in the last three years,” said Dr. J. P. Weber, the Swiss Charge d’Affairs for New Zealand, when he visited Christchurch on Thursday. “But they were worth only £700,000 in 1965, while Swiss exports to New Zealand were worth £2| million.”

Almost no exports to Switzerland were shown in New Zealand statistics for the year June, 1964, to June 1965, Dr. Weber said. This was because the wool, meat, and fruit concerned had first gone to other European countries.

Dr. Weber met the secretary of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce (Mr P. L. Bush) to discuss general possibilities for trade between Switzerland and New Zealand. Dr. Weber also called on the Mayor (Mr G. Manning), met representatives of Swiss firms, and planned to hold a reception for members of the Swiss community in Christchurch. He said the Swiss Embassy knew of 1500 Swiss in New Zealand —four times the number who lived here 10 years ago.

“They are all very attached to New Zealand, though not all of them are New Zealand citizens.” said Dr. Weber.

“There are important similarities between New Zealand and Switzerland. During the two years and a half since 1 came to Wellington, I have noticed your love of democracy and freedom. Your human relations are natural and open. “Like Switzerland, you depend heavily on exports. But our two countries never compete, because you export agricultural produce and we export industrial goods,” he said.

“Trade is in fact the main link between New Zealand and Switzerland, and your own productivity could be' increased by using Swiss machine tools, wood cutting machinery, and measuring instruments.” Dr. Weber said that machinery, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and watches were New Zealand’s main Swiss imports.