N.Z. relationship with France ‘on mend’

Press, 5 August 1981, Page 7

N.Z. relationship with France ‘on mend’

PA Auckland The thorn is out and the relationship between NewZealand and France is on the mend, according to-, the French Ambassador, Mr Jean Gueury. Mr Gueury, who was opening the French pavilion at the Auckland Trade Fair, said that the old sheep meat and butter arguments were being, patched up .and he looked forward to closer relationships and more trade with New- Zealand. France was keen to narrow the New Zealand trading advantage, he said. “At present your exports are four or five times greater than ours,” he said. France was hoping to boost its exports to New Zealand in a number of ways. It would have 94 firms exhibiting at the Auckland Trade Fair.

France had many products which. New Zealand could use, he said. The first French bank, the Indo-Suez Bank, would open an office in Wellington at the end of the month , and was expected to help New Zealand exports to the Middle East in particular.

The bank had historic and good connections in the Middle East which should be

an advantage for . New Zealand exporters. The gulf between France and New Zealand was caused by distance and the differences between Anglo-Saxon and Latin'temperaments. Mr Gueury said. He regretted that too little effort had.been made.by either side to try to bridge the differences.’ “Our interest is to try to fill this gap,” he said. ■

Mr Gueury is due to return to France after a four-year term in New Zealand.

The Minister of Foreign

Affairs (Mr Taiboys) told guests at the opening ceremony that France had been criticised in the past for not paying enough attention to its trade with New Zealand.

The big French presence at the fair was an indication of developing interest by France, he said.

While New Zealand experienced a trading advantage with France, the same was not true of the European Economic Community, he said. That was a very different situation.