Chilean trade chance

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32676, 4 August 1971, Page 3

Chilean trade chance

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 3. “Chile and Peru are New Zealand’s newest large-scale trading partners, and there is potential for the further development of an extremely valuable twoway trade,” the deputy chairman of the Dairy Board (Mr A. L. Friis) said in a statement today.

Mr Friis, who took part in last month’s freight rate talks in London with the British Conference Lines, returned to New Zealand with the board’s director of sales (Mr H. T. Jones) by way* of Peru and Chile. “The value of the trade with the two countries in 1971 will be close on s2om and could rise next year to between s2sm and s3om,” said Mr Friis. “The rapid development of Chile’s milk - in - schools scheme is impressive,” he said. “The aim is to ensure that every child under 15 receives half a litre of milk a day.

“Already I.Bm children are either receiving a "milk breakfast’ at school,, or a school lunch with milk. In addition, each of these children is given a litre of milk a week for family use. I “Chile produces some milk itself, and supplements this by importing milk powders and milkfat, which are used to produce liquid milk by the recombining process. In addition, bulk butter is imported for repacking for sale.” The Dairy Board Will make available two technical advisers to the authorities of Chile and Peru to assist in the development of milk processing and distribution. “We reached Chile shortly after the arrival of the first shipment from New Zealand of 4000 tons of milk powder. Reports on the quality of the product and the packaging I were extremely favourable, and made a strong impression on all concerned with

the trade,” Mr Friis said. He and Mr Jones had met the Chilean Minister of Health and senior Government officials connected with the importation and distribution of milk products, and there was no doubt that tremendous good will for New Zealand existed. “The people of Chile want to look west instead of north

for more of their trade—west across the Pacific Ocean. The term ‘Pacific neighbours’ is commonly heard,” he said. “There are excellent opportunities for reciprocal trade in this area. Just as Chile, is looking to New Zealand to supply milk products, New Zealand, in my view, should be looking at the opportunities for trading with Chile.” (