New Zealand kiwifruit marketer played host to the country’s prime minister John Key this morning during a visit to discuss the company’s plan to triple export earnings within 15 years.
Already New Zealand’s largest horticultural marketer, Zespri aims to increase its export business to NZ$3bn by 2025.
Zespri presented Prime Minister Key with the ‘Zespri 2025’ document outlining the plan at its Mt Maunganui offices this morning.
Mr Key reportedly told Zespri staff and local media the New Zealand government would maintain the country’s single point of entry kiwifruit export system for as long as growers support it.
The PM was accompanied by Bay of Plenty MP and Health Minister Tony Ryall and Tauranga MP Simon Bridges.
“The commitment to significantly grow the kiwifruit industry and export earnings, plays right to the heart of achieving New Zealand’s productivity targets and Horticulture NZ’s goal of creating a horticulture industry that is valued at NZ$10 billion by 2020,” said Zespri CEO Lain Jager.
“Industry developments such as the commercialisation of new kiwifruit varieties, a focus on value-added marketing and a unified collaborative industry structure coupled with innovative and sustainable orchard practices will be the key to our success.”
