Netherlands looking for business opportunities in food processing

Netherlands is looking for business and joint-venture opportunities in the Eastern and Northeastern parts of India in sectors like food processing, retailing, floriculture and horticulture.

Speaking at the ''Agro Protech 2009'', the flagship conference-cum-exhibition on Agro and Food sector, organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) here yesterday, Agricultural Counsellor, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in India Hans Wolff said, ''The East and Northeast of India has immense potential in sectors like food processing, retailing, floriculture and horticulture.

''The Netherlands, being one of the global leaders in these sectors, can be preferred investment and joint-venture partner,'' he added.

India needed to improve its quality of agricultural products, maintain international food standards and infrastructure and logistic facilities for becoming a globally competitive player in Agro and Food sector in a dynamic international trade regime, he opined.

Later, talking to mediapersons, he said, ''We are holding talks with the West Bengal government on Integrated Food Park.'' Dr Peter Smeets and W Simons of Wafeninfe University, Netherlands, would soon give presentation before the officials of the state government on the food park, Mr Wolff added.

Integrated Food Park would be a joint-venture among farmers, government and agro-based companies, he said, adding the park was a concept of ''business venue out of market'' where companies would buy the product from the farmers directly.

As there were no intermediaries between the farmers and companies, farmers would get proper price for their produce, he added.

''Initially Dutch companies will provide technology and knowledge for the food park. Indian agro-based companies will have to invest for the project,'' he said.

Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat governments were also interested in developing integrated food parks, he added.

-- (UNI) -- 06CA12.xml

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