P.M. to carry on work of Mr Rowling

Press, 9 October 1979, Page 2

P.M. to carry on work of Mr Rowling

j NZPA Brasov (Rumania) The Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) may not acknowledge it, but he will carry on i the work of his predecessor, iMr Rowling, during two : day:; of talks in the Rumanian capital of Bucharest. Mr Rowling four years ago became the first New Zealand Prime Minister to visit Rumania. After three days of talks with the then Prime Minister (Mr Manescu) it was agreed the two countries should have a trade agreement. These things take time to arrange and Mr Muldoon signed the agreement into being in Wellington earlier this year. Part of his task now will be to implement its broad provisions. The Rumanians during the talks will try to improve the balance — and to get the .All Blacks to visit in return for the 1975 tour of New Zealand by Rumania. Mr Muldoon said New Zealand would be most interested in increasing livestock shipments to the Black Sea port of Constanta. The live cattle and sheep the Rumanians import, Mr Muldoon said, were used for breeding and not intended for slaughter. The Rumanians are also interested in the meat export business. According to officials, they are trying

Ito get a bigger share of the ! fresh meat market down ithrough the Balkans to the i Middle East, where their ifresh product could compete, ! but on a different price i basis, with New Zealand's | frozen produce. • With the one-off petrol sale of last year as a precedent, energy could figure in official discussions too. Its importance is emphasised by Mr Muldoon’s visiting the giant Ploesti refinery on his way to Bucharest today. Mr Muldoon today will iend two days of relaxing at I the tourist centre of Brasov land drive the 170 km south to Bucharest for the hardwork part of the trip. His first meeting will be with the Prime Minister (Mr Hie Verdet). He will also have discussions with other officials and will meet President Nicolae Ceausescu. Apart from a freak year last year when New Zealand bought $4.4M worth of petrol from Rumania, trade between the two countries has consistently been in New Zealand’s favour. New Zealand's exports to Rumania, mainly beef, wool and hides but occasionally including shipments of livestock, usually run to about S3M. Trade the other way. mostly textiles, chemicals and machinery, has rarelytopped $500,000.