N.Z. seeks Hungarian business

Press, 23 August 1980, Page 3

N.Z. seeks Hungarian business

NZPA Budapest’ New Zealand traders are] in Budapest, Hungary, trying! to capitalise on the improved ; trade relations between the] two countries that have re-1 suited from the controversial’ Hungarian trains deal. • Both the Government and! individual New Zealand, companies are exhibiting at! the O.M.E.K. trade fair in Budapest, a five-yearly exhi-: bition which ris the biggest! of its kind in the country. ) The New Zealanders are* with seven other Western, countries, and all of Eastern i Europe, in an exhibition) which centres on agriculture! and the food industry. I ' New Zealand’s Trade Com-; •missioner, Mr R. :S. Grant,; •who is based in'Vienna, told; the NZPA from Budapest! yesterday that there were increased trade opportunities for New Zealand in Hungary. • . “We -are,;- obviously interested in developing the trade as a result of the Railways deal,” he said, “Agriculture is very important in Hungary. It is an exporting nation and we can see things of an agricultural technical nature that we can offer the Hungarians.” It is not the type of exer-i cise, though, _ where hard! buying and selling is done. I

:| “The fair gives everyone :! here a chance to make con-! Jtact and see what the other) [is doing,” Mr , Grant said.) :) “Its, great value is in the ex-1 ■ posiire here and the contact;” ) New Zealand’s stand in ! lithe 75,000 sq m trade hall ;; has been mounted jointly by J the Government and comJpanies and is the first time : New. Zealand has exhibited .(in Hungary. ( The Prime Minister (Mr! ‘(Muldoon), said during the 'Estimates debate in Pariiail ment. last week that one of! ijthe reasons for giving the 4 Wellington train unit order! to Hungary was because of [the possibility of increasing (trade there. ! ,i The $33 million deal for Lithe units which will be used :)on the Hutt line was criticised by the Opposition dur- ■ ing the debate on the estimates for the Prime Minister’s Department. > The Leader of the Opposi- ; tion (Mr Rowling) queried the involvement of a former transport adviser in the de- ; partment, Dr R. R. Allan, ; who, after the contract was : sealed with Hungary, formed i a partnership with the Auckland agent, Mr H. F. N. ■ Lowndes, who acted for [.'Hungary when the deal was 'made.