Export drive success

Press, 22 October 1980, Page 24

Export drive success

The current account deficit in the July year at $502.2 million, was down to 9.4 per cent of total export earnings of $5324-1 million,.' In * 1975, the year when this country first felt the oil ririce. shock, the deficit, ,at $1066.2 million, was ,64 per cent of exports’ worth only $1683.2 million. Mr J: R. Fletcher, president of the Export. .Institute’s Auckland division, quotes that dramatic comparison, in his report for. the division’s annual meeting tonight, to illustrate the success being achieved in the national drive to export. He also sees as a’feature of the drive the great, diversification which has occurred from the. once-heavy dependence on Britain as a market.

He points out that, whereas in 1965 New Zealand depended on Britain for '5l per cent of its export earnings, this year that percentage is down to 16,4. The past year saw North America run a close second to Britain with 15-9 per cent, closely followed by Asia-Oceania, 15.7. Then came Japan, 13.1; Australia, 12, the European Economic Community (excluding Britain), 10.8, with other countries contributing 16.1 per cent.

. Mr Fletcher notes that: the growing enthusiasm for

exporting is reflected in the Auckland division’s membership, which has grown by 1000 members in the past five years to 1414 at June 30. ' Membership income in the latest year grew 35 per cent — 10 per cent from an increase in the subscription, but 25 from membership growth. Membership rose by 214, or 15 per cent. According to Mr Fletcher — he holds main responsibility for developing export activites of Fletcher Holdings, Ltd — 1979/80 was a great year of the Export Institute. It mounted selling missions to South America and Micronesia, as well as an exhibition in Fiji. In reverse, it played host to visiting missions from the Marshall Islands, Japan, South Korea, Ecuador and Argentina. A high level of inquiries is being received daily by the institute staff, he says. The institute’s newspaper, Exporter, and a monthly commercial bulletin, Experiential, are a great help. And now support is being given to a glossy export catalogue.

The Auckland division gained excellent attendances at seminars held during the year and reports from the branches at Rotorua, Western Bay of Plenty and Waikato revealed high enthusiasm. Since July 1, the

division has had an Export Travel Club, as a further service to members. Mr Fletcher says: “Provided the present' level of enthusiasm . . . can be maintained, I am sure the Auckland division, with its increasing professionalism and tontnued emphasis in activities listed in this report, will go from strength to strength.”