U.S.-sponsored export study

Press, 14 November 1977, Page 2

U.S.-sponsored export study

Hie Americans will show New Zealand how to sell goods to them — at their own expense.

New Zealand’s problems and opportunities in export manufacturing and marketing have been selected as the theme for a proposed Eisenhower exchange fellowship study tour of the United States. Nominations of New Zealanders for the tour, in 1978 or 1979, are now being sought.

The theme for the tour was chosen by past New Zealand Eisenhower exchange fellows at their biennial meeting in Wellington recently. The president (Mr J. N. Crawford) said that export was “the area of greatest economic importance to New Zealand.” The fellows would recommend to the selection committee that both primary and secondary manufacturing be included, as well as developing industries such as fishing and fields such as meat-hygiene regulations and export banking, Mr Crawford said.

"New Zealand is primarily a food-exporting country. Efforts have been made over recent years to diversify into a broader exporting base. Even so, there is a widening gap between the cost of imported manufac-

tured products and the price received for the sale of our primary produce.

“Tariff and other barriers add to the growing trade imbalance between New Zealand and her trading partners,” he said. The international headquarters of the Eisenhower exchange fellowship programme in Philadelphia seeks the nominations of New Zealanders from their employers or other sponsoring organisations in the export-promotion field. The selection committee seeks mid-career applicants between the ages of 30 and 45. The choice made by the committee will be forwarded to Philadelphia, where the selection will be considered for the 40 or so study vacancies, with those nominees from some 60 other countries.

The study tour will include travel and observation for two to four months in the United States, with international and domestic travel and an adequate living allowance for the participant. Details of fellowship conditions can be obtained from the Cultural Affairs Officer, United States Information Service, Box 1190, Wellington. Nominations for the fellowship will close on December 15.