Fiji seeks joint manufacturing

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33815, 11 April 1975, Page 3

Fiji seeks joint manufacturing

Fiji's interest in joint manufacturing ventures there with New Zealand businesses was emphasised in Christchurch yesterday by the Fijian Minister for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives (Mr M. T. Khan).

He was speaking to the: Canterbury Manufacturers’ i Association and the Canter-I bury Chamber of Commerce.l Mr Khan is leading a 17-j man Fijian trade mission, the first to visit this country. The results of the mission, which; had already visited Wellington, were “very encouraging.”: He predicted a solid trading relationship between Fiji and) New Zealand. Mr Khan spoke of incen-i fives -which the Fijian Govern-; ment held out to tnanufac-l turers setting up joint ven- ■ tures there, and of protection extended to new industries, j EASIER WAY’ In New Zealand labour-; intensive industries were hav- i

ling difficulties, and the New{ ! Zealand Government’s atti-; itude seemed to be that rather! than have immigrant workers, | lit was better to have the in-1 {dustry move to Fiji, thus! {avoiding some of the social! {problems involved in moving 1 : people from one country to {another. The mission represented all I Fijian industry. Mr Khan said, {although the individual firms I dealt in such products as {plastics, umbrellas, luggage, {food, clothing, confectionery,; {timber products and furniHUre, footwear, and engineering. The mission was aware of : the importance of quality, I price, and reliability of sup-

ply. Mr Khan said. But the! {time had come for New Zea- ' | land to look very seriously at I {the products of its friends in! ithe Pacific. Import licensing problems: i could be overcome. NOT THREAT’ { He said that if New Zealand importers did not give Fijian industry a share of ! orders for goods which were i comparable in price and qual;ity with the products of other . {countries, the Governments of : both New- Zealand and Fiji {might want to know- why. { “But do not regard this as; ,la threat; rather as a plea,” ■ Isaid Mr Khan.