An Overseas Exchange

I was quite amused to read Peter Franks' cavalier comments about the budgetary incent ives to help New Zealand firms engaged in the "export of technology' and skills" obtain over seas contracts. To say that firms like ENEX are denying Indonesians the opportunity to develop their country according to their criteria and needs, is manifest nonsense. Indeed it is becom ing increasingly apparent that, ideologically, commercial participation of such selective nature would be more acceptable to developing countries than multi-lateral assistance with its concomi tant institutionalism. The projects with which ENEX is associated, are chosen by the Indonesian Government on the basis of pre-determined criteria such as generation of employment appointments and domestic production. To this extent criticism of their activities ought to be related to their actual role in achieving these defined objectives, and it is clear that Mr Franks' comments are not based on such an appraisal.