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T.
Mothibi
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14
November 2006
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TO: ALL
EDITORS EMBARGO: 19H30 (14 November 2006)
RE: NORTHERN
CAPE GOVERNMENT ENTERS INTO AGREEMENT WITH
WORLD’S LIQUID FOOD PROCESSING AND
PACKAGING GIANT;
TETRA PAK
The Northern Cape Government entered into a cooperation
agreement with one of the world’s leading liquid food processing and packaging giants
- Tetra Pak (PTY) LTD. The agreement is based on the undertaking of a
feasibility study that could usher in a new era for school feeding schemes, primary
health care facilities, government institutions catering for vulnerable
community members, local and national liquid markets. Northern Cape Premier
Dipuo Peters and Tetra Pak’s Managing Director in South Africa Robert Perez
undersigned a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Tuesday night 14 November
2006 at Galeshewe’s Ekhaya Guest House.
Premier Peters said; “This agreement shall commence on
1 December 2006 and end with the finalization of the feasibility study by the
end of April 2007. We hoping to have our first version of the feasibility Study
by end of January 2007 with a report being put before the Economic Cluster at
the same time,” asserted Premier Peters. She stated that exploring nutrition
alternatives against the tradition of cooked veggies has for long been a matter
that her cabinet members deliberated on through the Integrated Food Security
and Nutrition Programme.
She added that the introduction of fortified drinks as
a new global trend in building immune systems could serve as a nutrition
linchpin in eliminating under-nourishment among learners and in communities
once fortified drinks are appreciated for their nutritional value.
Tetra Pak South Africa’s
Managing Director Robert Perez who lifted the ceremony
veil, stated that his company would lead the feasibility study with a foremost
acknowledgment of reciprocal benefit of the exercise. “We’ll be committing our
best expertise and resources that we’ve acquired over decades of being in the
field of liquid food processing and packaging but equally so in the sharing of information
with dedicated partners much more could be achieved,’’ enthused Perez.
In partnering Tetra-Pak in the feasibility study, the Northern Cape government
would be making use of officials from the Departments of Agriculture and Land
Reform, Education, Social Development, Health and Economic Affairs.
Furthermore, farmers and other out-growers of fresh produce are also going to be
consulted as they would serve as the supply-base of the raw agricultural
products for processing. The two parties are expected to bear each one’s costs
during the five-month process of the feasibility study.
Enquiries: Thabo Mothibi @ 083
255 8840 e-mail:
tmothibi@agri.ncape.gov.za
Source :
Department of Agriculture and Land Reform
Editors Notes:
Tetra Pak
Tetra
Pak is a very global company with over 50 years of experience in developing
processing and packaging of foods such as milk, juices etc. and present in more than 165 countries around the world. Tetra Pak’s sister company DeLaval is a world-leading full
service supplier to the dairy farming industry.
The group has experience in
initiating and supporting school nutrition programmes all over the world. Today
children in at least 45 countries get milk and other nutritious products in the
group’s packages in school. These programmes cover around 40 million children
of with 15 million estimated to be living in developing countries.
The Food for Development Office is
the mechanism that Tetra Pak uses to put this extensive experience at work
around the world. Food for Development Office initiates, develops and supports school feeding and agricultural
development programmes. Their activities spring from the Company’s core
business – processing and packaging of food.
In May 2006, the United Nations
Development Program (UNDP), the Prince of Wales International Business Leaders
Forum and the International Chamber of Commerce awarded the Food for
Development Office the 2006 World Business Award in support of the United
Nations Millennium Development Goals
Tetra Pak South Africa is
responsible for Tetra Pak’s activities in Southern Africa, including South Africa, Botswana,
Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia,
Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In South Africa, Tetra Pak runs a
converting factory in Pinetown, producing packaging material.
School nutrition is high on the
agenda of many countries, not only for the benefit of children but also for the
potential of developing the local agricultural sector, creating job
opportunities and economic development.
Last week’s international school
milk conference in Stellenbosch South Africa,
which Tetra Pak sponsored, was a sign of the great interest and attention paid
to school nutrition. Around 25 countries participated in this three day event.
Tetra Pak is prepared to share
experience both in food processing and packaging and also in school nutrition
programmes, with private and public partners here in Northern Cape.
In this feasibility study, Tetra
Pak will use its resources from their market company here in South Africa and
with resources from its Food for Development Office which specializes in
developing integrated projects covering the whole value chain from locally
produced raw materials such as milk, fruit and vegetables all the way to the
ready to consume long life products that its customers produce and that could
be supplied to the commercial market as well as to schools and other nutrition
programmes. The Company is looking forward to work with the authorities and
with the private sector here in Northern
Cape and hope that their efforts will lead to both
social and economic development in the province.
Source:
Tetra Pak: Mohlomi Mothobi: @ 0827832801 e-mail:
mohlomi.mothobi@tetrapak.co.za
Enquiries: Thabo
Mothibi @ 083 255 8840 e-mail: tmothibi@agri.ncape.gov.za
