Govt to protect Arab markets

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33778, 26 February 1975, Page 18

Govt to protect Arab markets

(A'ew Zealand Press Associations

AUCKLAND, February 25.

Unless marketers of sheep meat overseas cooperated in the future, a single selling organisation would be established, said the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Moyle) on his return today from a tour of Saudi Arabia, Iran, and China.

“We cannot allow pri-; vate interests to damage the future prospects of trade in these countries,” said Mr Moyle. “Nobody is going to be shipping any old type of I ewe mutton in the future.” He was commenting on a shipment of 6000 tons of ewe mutton to Iran from New ! Zealand. “The Iranians are: discerning meat-eaters who i are only interested in quality, meat,” said Mr Moyle. The purpose of Mr Moyle’s' trip to the Middle East was a combination of discussions; on financial matters, trade | possibilities, and possible' joint ventures such as the es-' tablishment of cool-store; facilities, and the develop-1 ment of the pastoral indus-1 try, in the two countries. I •VALUABLE FRIENDS’ "Saudi Arabia will be a verysignificant market,” said Mr:

Moyle. “It has a small population and -has particularly friendly feelings towards New Zealand, which is also a small nation. “I feel that we have opened new doors and made some very valuable new friends in Saudi Arabia.” “Our friends in New Zealand” was how King Feisal greeted Mr Moyle when the Minister visited him at his palace. “There is a real feeling of friendliness, openness and equality,” said Mr Moyle.

In contrast with Iran, whose oil resources were feared to be becoming exhausted, Saudi Arabia oil reserves had barely been , tapped.

Although Iran had bigger trade prospects, Saudi Arabia would eventually be the richest country in the world and, therefore, a very significant market for New Zealand.

“There is an urgent need to establish our diplomatic presence in the Arab world,

not necessarily only in Teheran,” said Mr Moyle. The products that Saudi Arabia and Iran were most interested in were sheepmeats, dairy products, fruit, and treated timber. Various agreements had been made for trade in these commodities.

Next week the Saudi Arabian Minister of Agriculture (Sheik Hassan al Mushari) and the Director-General of Agriculture (Dr Ali Sadi) will visit New Zealand to cement relations established by Mr Moyle on his visit.