Anniversary of Colombo Plan

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32958, 3 July 1972, Page 9

Anniversary of Colombo Plan

'ew Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, June 30.

The Colombo Plan was vital, and constantly changing to meet new realities, the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Sir Keith Holyoake) said in a statement to mark the twentyfirst anniversary of the implementation of the plan today.

“Since the plan began in 1951 as an experiment in mutual co-operation, it has been expanded to embrace six. donor countries (Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and 22 recipients,” he said.

“In that time New Zealand has contributed more than S44m towards the plan’s total co-operative effort.” In addition to the capital assistance provided, 3449 Asian students had taken up training awards in various educational institutions in New Zealand and more than 535 New Zealand experts had taken short and longer-term assignments on aid projects in the recipient countries.

In 1969, in order to broaden the base of New Zealand aid efforts, the Government invited the private sector to associate itself with the official aid programme, Sir Keith Holyoake said. This had been

pursued with encouraging results.

At present 15 New Zealand firms were engaged in similar projects in Colombo Plan countries.

"These activities have been accompanied by a sustained effort on the part of New Zealand voluntary agencies that are supported generously by the New Zealand public,” he said. He said the recent 50 per cent increase in the level of the Government’s bilateral aid had enabled this country to increase the level of Colombo Plan aid to South-East .Asia without affecting the amounts being spent in the other countries of the Colombo Plan.

“I look forward to closer co-operation and even greater achievements in the years ahead, particularly as the Colombo Plan countries will be holding their annual meeting in Wellington at the end of 1973,” he said.