Export growth led the way for N.Z.

Press, 30 April 1981, Page 6

Export growth led the way for N.Z.

Growth in exports has led the way for New Zealand’s economic survival in the 1980 s, according to the Minister of National Development (Mr Birch). “The last five years have been the most difficult in New Zealand since the depression of the 19305,” Mr Birch said. “For us to succeed as a nation, we must .be prepared to pick up and accept the challenge.” Mr Birch was speaking at the opening of the third workshop on growth opportunities at Mona Vale yesterday. Four workshops are being held throughout New Zealand this month and next month for small and medium-scale businessmen,

industrialists and agriculturalists. The theme of yesterday’s workshop, attended by about 60 local businessmen and women, was growth through effective marketing, domestic and external, including tourism. - Each workshop, organised and sponsored by the Government, is chaired by Mr Birch. Growth in export earnings in the last five years had helped the country to offset our import spending, Mr Birch said. “In the last five years, agricultural export earnings have increased threefold from. SI3OOM to $3900M,” he said. . "Export earnings from

fishing in the same period increased six-fold from S2SM to SISOM; forestry exports increased four-fold from SISM to S6OOM; and manufacturing exports increased four fold from $250M.t0 $1000M,” Mr Birch said.

: However, over the same five years, oil prices have rocketed from S93M ; to SISOOM, causing a downturn in the country’s trade balance.

“Now we must, maintain our momentum, as we go into a period of oil price stabilisation, and offset the balance of payments deficit.” Mr Birch said that all the progress in the last five years was made possible only by a substantial effort in the private sector.