Moore mission to India

Press, 21 February 1986, Page 8

Moore mission to India

PA Wellington The Minister of Overseas Trade, Mr •Moore, hopes at a meeting in New Delhi next month to confirm a visit to New Zealand by the Indian Prime Minister, Mr Gandhi. Mr Moore will leave tomorrow for Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan on his fifth overseas trade mission. He has a two-hour meeting with Mr Gandhi set for March 4. Mr Gandhi was to have visited New Zealand early this year but the tentative date was put back to October 3 to 8. “He is one of the top five world leaders. I hope to be in a position to confirm his visit,” Mr Moore said. He said he would discuss with the Prime Minister the possibility of an Indian business group making a reciprocal visit. The trade mission to India, comprising 31 businessmen, is part of the Government’s special India plan. “The Prime Minister has been there and Sir Edmund Hillary, the High Commissioner, is there,” he said. New Zealand had also recently been host to a delegation of senior Indian diplomats in Wellington. Mr Moore’s itinerary includes a meeting with the President of Sri Lanka, Mr Jayawardene. Shipping issues are expected to be raised. Discussions with Mr Gandhi and Indian Ministers would focus on New Zealand’s G.A.T.T. relationship with India, Mr Moore said. New Zealand’s trade with India has increased in recent years. In 1984-85 exports increased 34 per cent to $4B million compared with $35.7 million in 1983-84.