Top French team keen to tie up with local dairy firms
A leading French dairy association has expressed willingness to provide modern technical knowhow on improving the industry in Sri Lanka and to supply dairy equipment through its associated companies.
ADEPTA, a French Association representing food and agriculture equipment and technologies manufacturers based in France is ready to extend its assistance to Sri Lanka providing expert advice on cow and goat genetics: semen, embryos and breeding stocks as well as milk processing.
In an interview with the Business Times Ms. Racheline Levi, Agro- Industry Coordinator from ADEPTA said that a high- profile dairy sector delegation from France led by ADEPTA, has made a 3-day visit to Sri Lanka in a mission to find new markets in countries in the Asia pacific region including Sri Lanka. She noted that her association is ready to support Sri Lanka to improve dairy industry by providing technical know and other services.
She said that ADEPTA with a 400- strong membership representing food and agriculture equipment and technologies man- ufacturers, is interested in establishing close contacts and relationship with Sri Lankan firms and organizations involved in food and agriculture field especially in the dairy sector.
During their trip to Colombo, the delegation met a large number of companies who are already present in the local dairy industry along with few important local groups venturing newly into livestock and dairy projects. These French companies were also received by the Ministry of Livestock and Rural Community Development, National Livestock Development Board, Department of Animal Production and Health as well as the Board of Investment, a French embassy statement said.
The Ministry said that the delegation held extensive talks with Sunil Wickremasinghe, Chairman Milk Industries of Lanka Company Ltd (Milco) on Wednesday.
When contacted, Mr. Wickremasinghe said that representatives of six French companies having expertise in the dairy industry (livestock and food processing) informed him about their intention of supplying modern dairy equipment and providing technical kno- how. He noted that he welcomed the offer of assistance made by the French delegation and informed them that Milco is willing to establish links with ADEPTA in order to develop the dairy industry in the island.
France is a leader in dairy production in the European Union, being the first producer of cheese ( more than 1000 varieties) and butter in the region.
The dairy industry is the second most important agro-food industry in France listing three French groups Lactalis, Danone, Bongrain among the top 15 dairy companies in the world.