The New Zealand today expressed keen desire to setup joint ventures in Punjab in various areas of Industry, Agriculture and milk processing sector to become partner in the progress of Punjab as New Zealand Minister for Primary Industries Mr. David Carter led a 22 member trade delegation to have interaction with Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal and Cabinet colleagues. Leading the delegation the New Zealand Minister said that Punjab and New Zealand share the common expertise in agriculture sector and New Zealand can coordinate with Punjab by offering it latest agriculture technology and techniques to prolong shelf life of agriculture products. He said that Punjab has set an example before whole world by feeding the population of 120 crore of country with geographical area of 1.5 percent of the country. He said that Punjabis have a credible contribution in the development of New Zealand and out of 4.4 million population of New Zealand over 1.2 lakh Indian pre-dominantly Punjabis are contributing in every sector of economy of New Zealand.
Offering to setup ‘Joint Farms’ in Punjab, the New Zealand Minister said that these agriculture farms could be pilot projects to showcase the latest technology in agriculture sector. He said that the focus of New Zealand agriculture sector was on increasing productivity and profitability to make the sector self-sustaining. He said that New Zealand was passionate about experimenting with new technologies that can make it survive in the competitive market.
Seeking the latest technology from New Zealand in milk chilling and milk processing sector, Mr. Badal said that Punjab has the second largest milk cooperative in the country that was operating with the most modern technology. He said that the cooperatives of New Zealand and Punjab can work collectively to setup joint ventures in such sectors and offer latest dairy products to the world market. The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister said that Punjab was also open to private dairy processing units of New Zealand setting up their ventures in Punjab.
Mr. Anil Joshi, Industry and Trade Minister welcoming the delegation highlighted the state’s core strengths and congenial industry-friendly environment as well as the expeditious clearance regime. Mr. Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Animal Husbandry Minister also highlighted the enormous potential for setting up of Fish, Meat and Dairy based processing industries in Punjab.
The New Zealand delegation consisted of Mr. Shari Mannan, Private Secretary, New Zealand., Mr. Chris Carson, Director Industrial Policy, New Zealand, Mrs. Jan Henderson, High Commissioner, New Zealand, Mr. Kanwaljeet Singh Bakshi, MP New Zealand, Mr. Richard White, Trade Commissioner of New Zealand, Mr. Gareth Pidgeon, Second Secretary, New Zealand, Mr. Mridu Vats, Policy Advisor, New Zealand, Mr. James McVitty, Mr. John Monaghan, Mr. Rose Verry, Mr. S. Kaushal, Mr. Sameer Handa, Mr. S. Gagneja, Patton Refrigeration, Mr. J. Calder, Mr. T. Begbie, both New Zealand Fieldays, Mr. Tim Richie New Zealand Meat Industry Association, Mr. Allan Pollard, Pipfruit NZ, Mr. Grand Sinclair, Apple NZ Limited, Mr. Nacine Tunley, Pipfruit NZ and Mr. Mike Simpson of Waimea Nurseries.