Hard work goes into A.S.E.A.N. trade links

Press, 24 May 1988, Page 39

Hard work goes into A.S.E.A.N. trade links

PA Wellington New Zealand and A.S.E.A.N. business leaders will meet in Kuala Lumpur in July in a continuing effort to develop trade between the two regions. The A.S.E.A.N.-New Zealand Business Council has ' invited representatives from A.S.E.A.N. countries to see at first hand New Zealand’s available technology. “We hope they will then go back to their countries after this technology tour and build on contacts made here,” said the council’s director, Mrs Esme Marris.

The council, chaired by a Wellington buinessman, Sir Roderick Weir, was formed in 1983. Mrs Marris said re-

ported criticism at the recent Foreign Policy School in Dunedin that New Zealand businessmen had outdated ideas on A.S.E.A.N. trade "was just not true of all business.”

“The crux of the matter is that our council is very, active and those companies belonging to it are making a strong effort to move New Zealand business focus into A.5.E.A.N.,” she said. The council’s directory of New Zealand firms, which are potential business partners for A.S.E.A.N. countries, has been widely distributed in A.S.E.A.N. “We are still receiving requests for copies 18 months later,” Mrs Marris said.

The council has successfully hosted two missions from Indonesia as well as missions from Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia, she said. It has also assisted trade missions led by the Minister of Overseas Trade, Mr Moore, by arranging special meetings and contacts with business leaders. “The A.S.E.A.N.-New Zealand Business Council has spent many years of hard work, tact and diplomacy to achieve full dialogue status with toplevel A.S.E.A.N. business leaders, already heavily courted by bigger voices than ours, such as Japan, the United States, Australia and the European Community,” Mrs Marris said.