"Our" business?
OPINION: One particular bone the Hound has been gnawing on for years now is how the chattering classes want it both ways when it comes to the success of NZ's dairy industry.
The refurbished plant boasts better manufacturing efficiencies and continues to meet world class health and safety, and food safety and quality standards. The upgrade will allow the plant to blend and pack around 30,000 metric tonnes of milk powder products a year –one billion serves of dairy.
Managing director of Fonterra Brands Malaysia and Singapore, Jose Miguel Porraz Lando said the improved facility means Fonterra is better placed than ever to meet the growing demand for dairy – not just in Malaysia, but across 13 countries in Southeast Asia and the Middle East where the site exports its dairy products.
“Demand for dairy nutrition is growing fast across the region driven by the rising middle class and huge populations. The investment will go a long way to helping us meet this growing demand for dairy and cement our role as a leading regional dairy manufacturer and exporter,” he said.
Porraz Lando was joined at the official reopening of the plant by the Minister for Māori Development and Associate Minister for Economic Development, Te Ururoa Flavell; Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Yang Berhormat Datuk Haji Ahmad bin Haji Maslan; and Fonterra Director, David MacLeod.
Flavell, who is in Malaysia for a business and cultural mission, said as New Zealand’s largest company, and the world’s biggest dairy processer and exporter, Fonterra plays a big role in putting New Zealand on the map globally.
“Fonterra has a 40 year presence and history in Malaysia and is an example of a successful New Zealand business using Malaysia as a regional hub. It is a real pleasure to be here to witness the impact of Fonterra’s dairy business in Malaysia.”
Haji Maslan said the reopening of Fonterra’s plant in Malaysia was an opportune time to celebrate Malaysia and New Zealand’s bilateral relations, which marks its 60th anniversary this year.
“As the largest New Zealand investor in Malaysia, Fonterra Brands Malaysia plays an important role in facilitating the relationship between New Zealand and Malaysia.
“Over the last six years, Fonterra has invested close to $20 million in improvements across its two manufacturing sites – contributing significantly to Malaysia’s overall manufacturing infrastructure and capabilities,” he said.
Fonterra director David MacLeod said the plant reopening builds on Fonterra’s generations of dairy farming and manufacturing expertise to deliver high quality and safe milk to the world.
“It’s fantastic to be in Malaysia to see for myself the facility that helps bring the milk that we produce with great care in New Zealand to millions of local families each day – contributing to their health and nutrition,” says MacLeod.
The reopening of the improved milk powder manufacturing plant is another strong step forward for Fonterra in Malaysia, which has built a significant local presence over the past 40 years and more.
Today, Fonterra has more than 700 staff across two manufacturing sites, a corporate office and a global shared services centre, and is behind well-loved dairy nutrition brands such as Anlene, Anmum (Materna, Lacta and Essential), Fernleaf and Anchor.
