More joint ventures?

Press, 1 September 1980, Page 4

More joint ventures?

PA Auckland Joint ventures, in technology and possibly energy between New Zealand and Canada have been suggested by the Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Taiboys). .- Speaking in Auckland on Saturday on his return from a nine-day official visit to five Canadian provinces and the Federal capital of Ottawa, he said he was enthusiastic about further trading opportunities offered by the Canadian market.

He would not be specific on the question of joint ventures but in discussions with the Canadian Minister of Energy Mr Taiboys referred to “exchanges of information and the possibility of other

joint ventures in areas where, our technology is complementary.” j He said on Saturday that trade between the two countries had steadily but slowly increased in recent years. The Alberta Gas-Petrocorp methanol project was encouraging.

: . “I went to Canada to focus ! New Zealand attention on the i size of the Canadian market,” ; he said. “There is a close relation- ■ ship between our two -countries but we’re not making the most of opportunities, especially manufacturing. There is a wider range of products we can market and if we put a greater effort in : we. can score points.” I Mr Taiboys said there were

“quantitative” tariff restrictions on beef and dairy products into Canada but none on lamb. -j. A conference on ’’Canada and the Pacific” in Vancouver later this year might add new substance to his suggested improved and expanded agreement with Canada on trade and economic relations. Discussions would continue for some time.

Two-way trade was running about $2OO million about equally balanced but he believed the surface had only been scratched.

Mr Taiboys confirmed that he would be back in Europe before the end of the year to try to solve the latest snag in the European Community’s butter agreement.