Russians buy beef worth $3m and call for more trade

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33858, 2 June 1975, Page 1

Russians buy beef worth $3m and call for more trade

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 1. Officials of the Soviet Union signed a contract today for the country’s first purchase of New Zealand beef since 1970. The deal, worth between $3.25 m and $3.5m, was signed in Wellington with a representative of Amalgamated Marketing, Ltd.

Under the contract, 5000 tons of frozen carcase beef will be shipped between June and August. ' i

Mr F. I. Shpota, the commercial counsellor of the Russian Embassy, said in Wellington that the deal had been signed with Amalgamated Mar* keting because the company had bought big quantifies of fertiliser from Russia. “We will look at other companies for trade if they are ready to buy our goods,” he said. It is the first Russian purchase of New Zealand beef since sales of 12,000 tons in 1970. Mr Shpota said the Soviet Union was usually selfsupporting in beef. However, in March, it bought 10,000 tons of New Zealand mutton, after purchasing 40,000 tons last year. Russia was keen to respond to the request of the Minister of Overseas Trade (Mr Walding) for more purchases from New Zealand, and also to heed the call for increased trade made by the first meeting of the joint New ZealandSoviet trade commission in

Wellington last November, said Mr Shpota. However, it was anxious to redress the trade imbalance. Last year, it bought $54.6m worth of New Zealand goods, but New Zealand bought only $2.4m worth of goods from Russia.

The Soviet Union was particularly keen to supply coalmining and thermal-power station machinery. "Tn the light of New Zealand’s energy difficulties, we are well placed to provide the most up-to-date coalmining combiners and turbines, eenerators, and boilers for thennal-power stations,” he said. “In addition, we can provide a wide range of fertilisers. trucks, and agricultural equipment suitable to New Zealand’s needs.” Russia also wanted to expand cultural relationships and technology. "Alreadv this year we have had a Russian film festival and visits bv Russian parachutists. parliamentarians and sportsmen. The Mayors of Christchurch and Wellington have recently been in Moscow. Technology visits “These visits have helped the two countries reach better understanding, and similar exchanges of technologists could also help,” said Mr Shpota. One of the difficulties of trade between the countries was lack of information, which could be overcome by an exchange of technology. "A representative of the

New Zealand Electricity Department is in Moscow visiting thermal-power stations and research and design institutes.

“It is far better and more economical to buy or exchange up-to-date technology than to attempt to establish and train your own research centres and scientists,” Mr Shpota said.