Mr MILLS - 2000-08-09
There are a range of indicators we can look at to determine the level of justified confidence in the Northern Territory. I have had representation from farmers from interstate expressing interest in moving to the Territory. Is the minister aware of interest from overseas farmers in establishing operations in the Territory?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, in the last few weeks I have hosted a number of delegations from both interstate and overseas of interested investors looking to invest in agriculture or horticulture concerns in the Northern Territory. I hosted a delegation of Zimbabwean interests who are touring Australia looking at their options in relation to future production. One must sympathise or empathise with those people who find themselves now in a very difficult situation in their home country and are forced to look to Australia and other places like Australia to secure their future and the futures of their families. I also hosted a delegation of 30 producers from Queensland and New South Wales looking at their options for production in the Northern Territory of various products, including field crops and horticultural produce.
Of most interest, I hosted the chairman of a very large Filipino corporation who came down here to look at the possibility of accessing product from the Northern Territory. To give an idea of the size of this corporation, it by itself supplies 40% of all bananas consumed in China. It by itself provides 30% of world pineapple production. On one farm that I have visited, they pick and pack 3000 tonnes of pineapples a day.
This producer, whom I have known for a number of years, has recognised that Northern Territory production is not in competition with his product but complementary to it, in that we produce counter-seasonally to the Philippines. He has very, very large established markets throughout Asia and throughout Europe. The company came to the Northern Territory looking to source product from here, firstly agricultural/horticultural product in the form of mangoes and, secondly, seafood product in the form of mudcrabs.
These people spoke to producers here in the Northern Territory and explained the volumes they can deal with. Our 1.7 million trays of mangoes last year, rising to 2.5 million or thereabouts this year and in the next few years to about 10 million trays, is a mere drop in the ocean for the markets that these people can access. They will be back in the next couple of weeks looking to invest directly in large-scale production.
They are a very well known and very highly respected multinational company. As the Minister for Asian Relations and Trade will tell you, they account for 850 000 breadwinners in the Philippines. They are a substantial company and a company that I think can bring great benefit to the Northern Territory, not only in improving and increasing our production but also in providing us with easy access to some very, very large markets.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, in the last few weeks I have hosted a number of delegations from both interstate and overseas of interested investors looking to invest in agriculture or horticulture concerns in the Northern Territory. I hosted a delegation of Zimbabwean interests who are touring Australia looking at their options in relation to future production. One must sympathise or empathise with those people who find themselves now in a very difficult situation in their home country and are forced to look to Australia and other places like Australia to secure their future and the futures of their families. I also hosted a delegation of 30 producers from Queensland and New South Wales looking at their options for production in the Northern Territory of various products, including field crops and horticultural produce.
Of most interest, I hosted the chairman of a very large Filipino corporation who came down here to look at the possibility of accessing product from the Northern Territory. To give an idea of the size of this corporation, it by itself supplies 40% of all bananas consumed in China. It by itself provides 30% of world pineapple production. On one farm that I have visited, they pick and pack 3000 tonnes of pineapples a day.
This producer, whom I have known for a number of years, has recognised that Northern Territory production is not in competition with his product but complementary to it, in that we produce counter-seasonally to the Philippines. He has very, very large established markets throughout Asia and throughout Europe. The company came to the Northern Territory looking to source product from here, firstly agricultural/horticultural product in the form of mangoes and, secondly, seafood product in the form of mudcrabs.
These people spoke to producers here in the Northern Territory and explained the volumes they can deal with. Our 1.7 million trays of mangoes last year, rising to 2.5 million or thereabouts this year and in the next few years to about 10 million trays, is a mere drop in the ocean for the markets that these people can access. They will be back in the next couple of weeks looking to invest directly in large-scale production.
They are a very well known and very highly respected multinational company. As the Minister for Asian Relations and Trade will tell you, they account for 850 000 breadwinners in the Philippines. They are a substantial company and a company that I think can bring great benefit to the Northern Territory, not only in improving and increasing our production but also in providing us with easy access to some very, very large markets.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016