Sign of ‘closer relations’

Press, 19 April 1980, Page 4

Sign of ‘closer relations’

NZPA London The Swiss Government's invitation to the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) to visit this year is seen in London as a positive indication of the developing relationship between the two countries. The three-day visit in June is “official" — the Swiss Government foots the bill— and diplomats say it underlines the interest Switzerland has in New Zealand as a target for investment. “The Swiss do not issue invitations like this very often. This is really quite unusual,” NZPA was told. The June visit will not be the first time Mr Muldoon has been in Switzerland. He met leading bankers in Zurich in 1978, and other Ministers are regularly in Switzerland for United Nations and other international' meetings. While this trip is said to be not directly linked to Swiss interest in a new aluminium smelter in the south of the South Island, it is part of a general increase in contact between the two countries. Along with West Germany Switzerland plays an important role in handling New Zealand’s foreign-loan programme. Diplomats say the country is virtually on a par with West Germany as a source of skills and technology, and direct and indirect investment. For its part, New Zealand' sees Switzerland as a possible continental outlet for exports outside the highly protected Common Market. The high-level New Zealand commercial mission that visited West Germany late last year also went to Switzerland, and economic links between the two countries are said to be developing quite well. “Obviously they attach some importance to this relationship,” one New Zealand dipolmat said . 1