Talks on N.Z. market access

Press, 25 March 1980, Page 23

Talks on N.Z. market access

NZPA Singapore The New Zealand Gov* ernnient is discussing with industrialists and trade union leaders prospedts for giving Pacific Island nations better access to the New Zealand market. The Minister of Trade and Industry (Mr AdamsSchneider) has said in Singapore that the talks are taking place against the background of Government policy to facilitate the trading development of the Pacific bland countries. It was under this policy, he said, that the Government had developed its incentive scheme for New Zealand companies willing to open fresh business in the Pacific. Projects taken up under this scheme had not been spectacular but certainly useful. "There are now

500 people employed in business ventures _ started by 20 companies in eight countries who did not have employment before we started ' this policy. Mr Admas-Schneider said. He said the scheme created new employment opportunites. Soccer balls were now being made in Tonga and exported from there to New Zealand and to Western Europe. Officials of the Trade and Industry Department were helping the Island governments to develop exports to Third World countres under the preferential tariff scheme available to developing nations. Mr Adams-Schneider said he had discussed Pacific Island development with officials of the Econ« omic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific at its annual meeting