P.M. asks Japan for energy aid

Press, 18 April 1981, Page 2

P.M. asks Japan for energy aid

NZPA correspondent Tokyo The Japanese Government has been asked by the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) to help finance a geothermal development project which a New Zealand company hopes to carry out in Indonesia.

Mr Muldoon raised the subject on Thursday during talks with both the Japanese Prime Minister (Mr Suzuki) and the Minister of International Trade and Industry (Mr Tanaka). The New Zealand company, Geothermal Energy (New Zealand), Ltd, or G.E.N.Z.L., has had discussions with Japanese partners in Tokyo this week. Mr Muldoon said that the Japanese seemed to think that some assistance could be given through an overseas economic co-operation fund administered by Mr Tanaka's minstry. , r ... The project would 1 be worth -s2oo.million. . ■ ' . “If some funding is going to be done on a concessional basis, it will have to be the Japanese operation,” Mr Muldoon said. He said that the New Zealand company would provide the expertise and technology. G.E.N.Z.L. has been the administering agency of New ‘Zealnd’s costliet sj’ngle aid project in helping to develop Indonesia’s geothermal resources for power generation. The project has cost about $24 million.

the Indonesian Government is expected to seek .proposals soon for the development of several areas on the most heavily populated of its islands, Java.

Another task for Mr Muldoon on Thursday, was the opening of a Government Tourist Office in Tokyo, at which he said it was clear that the encouraging growth in travel from Japan to New Zealand would continue, and that the New Zealand Govenrment would increase tourist promotion in Japan. The new premises, in the Hibiya district near the centre of Tokyo, replace an office that has been run from the New Zealand Embassy, which is sited in a mainly residential area.

Mr Muldoon said that the new site represented the latest in a series of steps in the development of tourism between Japan and New Zealand. ■

When. tourist promotion was started from an. office within the : Embassy in 1973, about 5400 Japanese visited New Zealand each year, he said. "Today, after a period of rapid growth, 20,000 Japanese visitors travel to New Zealand each year, and 80 per cent of them are tourists.”

“Last July and August saw the inauguration of direct air links between our two countries, by the national carriers, Japan Airlines and Air New Zealand.

“Strong demand for seats has' already required Air New Zealand to increase its capacity by introducing wide-body aircraft on the run.

“It seems clear that the encouraging growth in travel from Japan to New Zealand will continue, and we will be better able to take advantage of the potential demand by moving our tourist office

to this prime city site, close to Air New Zealand’s office and to many of Japan’s leading travel companies.” Japan’s biggest newspaper, welcoming Mr Muldoon, has urged “attentive hearing” of his views.

A leading article in the newspaper, entitled "Friends in Need,” said in part: “The New Zealand Government of Prime Minister Muldoon is firmly aligned with the A.N.Z.U.S. security . pact, comprising the United States' Australia, and New Zealand,

.“It is worth noting that New Zealand is beconjing much, more conscious of its position as a member of the Asian community, as its former close relations with Britain arid other West European nations slacken off.

“With a population of three million, .New Zealand is heavily dependent on trade for its economic strength. Prime Minister Muldoon’s Government has made efforts to bring in foreign capital to facilitate New Zealand’s industralisation. Nevertheless, New Zealand cannot help but rely on its farm and dairy product exports to keep its economy going at present. "Because of New Zealand’s heavy dependence on exports of such primary products, it; has expressed strong dissat- j isfaction with Japan’s trade Barriers. "It is of first importance for Japan to develop a clear, long-range viewpoint in pursing the goal of promoting friendly, interdependent ties with New Zealand,” the article concluded.