> FORWARDED MESSAGE from Philip Lyth (PHILIP@SMTP > {[EMAIL PROTECTED]}) at 6/26/97 12:14 AM > The NZ Coalition Government delivered its first budget a few hours ago. > This is what it had to say about MAI and the claims it makes for the > agreement. The good news is that the political pressure from the > >Alliance party has forced the Government to address the issue. > > > > > > > >"We are a Government that supports investment. Investment is the key to > >strong economic growth. Strong growth requires high levels of investment. > >It is a simple fact that New Zealand does not have an adequate savings > record > >to fund that investment. > > > >That's why we support the development of the Multilateral Agreement on > >Investment in the OECD. That Agreement will oblige countries to be quite > >clear about any limits they impose on foreign investment - and also > oblige > >them to treat fairly any investment within those limits. > > > >The Agreement will clearly signal what we expect of potential overseas > >investors in New Zealand and will provide them with certainty about the > way > >they will be treated. New Zealanders looking to invest offshore will be > able > >to do so with greater certainty about the investment environment. > > > >The Government will be working in the OECD to ensure that it produces a > >world-class agreement that improves the climate for international > investment, > > while protecting the national interest of members. > > > >In short any agreement signed by New Zealand will reflect this Coalition's > >conditions on foreign investment. > > [End] > ***** NOTES from Chantell Taylor (CTAYLOR @ CITIZEN) at 6/26/97 8:48 AM >