SEEKING EXPORTS Profits “Carrot” Held Out To Exporters

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32053, 30 July 1969, Page 8

SEEKING EXPORTS Profits “Carrot” Held Out To Exporters

The lure of money rather than the spectre of national bankruptcy was used by the Minister of Overseas Trade (Mr Marshall) yesterday to urge yet more New Zealand firms to explore export markets.

Mr Marshall told an export seminar in Christchurch that good profits were out there waiting for exporters and that there were plenty of opportunities.

He said that the seminar was not meant to be an academic exercise. Its purpose was to increase business turnover through exports, using i surplus capacity to expand into the export Held—‘because there are markets waiting there for you.” The seminar was an exercise to help producers and manufacturers to Increase their profits through exports. “The rewards can be very substantial,” he said. Mr Marshall said that this year’s export seminar was based on a new approach to the subject. Its purpose was to get down to practical problems. “We’ve proved,” he said, ••that New Zealanders can export and that they can produce goods of quality that can compete on the International market

“Now we want to get as many New Zealanders as possible involved in exports. There is still a tremendous capacity left untried.” . Mr Marshall' said that 750 persons would attend export seminars throughout New Zealand. “I hope this Interest will be sustained,” he said, "and that before long we will see comparatively new exporters leaving New Zealand on their first trade missions.” Describing the range of products now being exported, the Minister asked who would have thought that New Zealand would ever be exporting ecclesiastic and academic garments. This was now being done. He urged exporters not to think they could sit back and

relax because New Zealand had achieved earnings of $lOOO million in one year. “We have to keep the pressure on,” he said. “We have to keep driving.... We need

every export dollar we can earn, whether it is from agriculture or industry. No-one here should feel that what he might contribute is insignificant. Every dollar counts.”