(Left to rught) Announcing the opening of Murray Goulburn’s office in Dubai today were The Honourable Peter Walsh MP – Minister for Agriculture and Food Security and Minister for Water, The Honourable Louise Asher MLA, Minister for Innovation, Services and Small Business, and Minister for Tourism and Major Events and Murray Goulburn’s Managing Director Gary Helou.
The distance between the green pastures of Australian dairy farms and the Middle East is about to get smaller with the opening of a Dubai office by Australia’s number one dairy company, Murray Goulburn Co-operative Co. Limited (MG), on Monday.
MG Managing Director Gary Helou said a presence in Dubai, in addition to existing offices in Tokyo, Ho Chi Min City and Singapore, would enable the 100 per cent dairy farmer-owned co-operative to market its milk powders, butter and cheese to important customers and consumers in the region.
“The new office allows MG to forge strong relationships with local ingredient processors and food service customers.” He said the product range marketed in the Middle East would be boosted with the launch of a new range of consumer products later in the year.
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is the world’s second largest dairy import region, importing a combined 1.2 million tonnes of dairy produce valued at A$3.8 billion.
Mr Helou said the demand for dairy products was growing significantly in the MENA region, as in many other parts of Asia and that companies with access to on-farm supply were in a stronger position to service the future market growth.
“The Australian dairy industry is extremely well positioned to help meet increasing Middle Eastern demand for dairy products and contribute to food security in the region. MG, which processes one-third of Australian milk, will have a key role to play.” Mr Helou said.
“Exports of Victorian dairy products to MENA were worth A$285 million in 2011/12, but with Australian dairy accounting for less than 10 per cent share of this crucial market, MG believes there is significant untapped potential for future export growth.”
He said Australia’s reputation for being clean and green set the nation’s dairy products apart. “Our dairy farmer suppliers graze their dairy cattle on pasture-based production systems and are vertically integrated with MG’s processing and marketing business. This means that MG can offer its customers full traceability to support our exemplary record for food safety.”
Announcing the opening at Dubai’s Gulfood, the world’s largest food and hospitality show, Victorian Agriculture Minister Peter Walsh said the establishment of the new MG office reflected major opportunities for growth in exports of Victorian dairy products to the region.
“MG is the largest dairy exporter from Australia and one of the largest container exporters from the Port of Melbourne, generating export revenue of $1.2 billion in 2011/12,” Mr Walsh said.
“The company recognises substantial opportunities for export growth in MENA and the establishment of a strategic business unit at its Dubai office will help drive its expanded presence in this rapidly developing market.”
Mr Helou and Minister Walsh are in Dubai as part of the Victorian Coalition Government’s Super Trade Mission to the Middle East
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Contact Person: John Rynehart
Phone: +971 (0) 55 9806679
Email: john.rynehart@fourcommunications.com
Website address: www.mgc.com.au
Murray Goulburn Co-operative Co. Limited (MG) is Australia’s largest dairy food company receiving and manufacturing approximately three billion litres per annum or one third of Australia’s milk. MG was formed in 1950 and remains 100% dairy farmer owned. MG is Australia’s largest dairy food exporter and its flagship Devondale brand is sold nationally.
Backgrounder
What is Murray Goulburn Co-operative Co. Ltd (MG)?
MG is Australia’s number one dairy foods company and Australia’s largest dairy exporter, generating export revenue of AU$1.2 billion in 2011/12. It produces close to three billion litres of milk annually. Established in 1950, MG is 100 percent owned by approximately 2500 dairy farmer/ shareholders, who farm across south east Australia.
Why is MG in Dubai?
MG recognises substantial opportunities for export growth in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and its new office in Dubai will the business help forge strong relationships with its important customers and to market its products locally. Shortly, people across the region will be able to enjoy fresh Australian dairy foods from MG, with a new range of consumer products being launched later in the year.
The Middle East and North Africa region is the world’s second largest dairy import region, which currently imports a combined 1.2 million tonnes of dairy product valued at A$3.8 billion. Exports of Victorian dairy products to MENA in 2011/12, were worth $285 million but there is significant potential to expand this market share.
Where else is MG based outside of Australia?
The new office is in addition to existing offices in Tokyo, Ho Chi Min City and Singapore. Our biggest markets include Asia, the Middle East, the United States and Europe.
How are MG products produced?
Australian dairy foods are internationally renowned for being among the highest quality and safest in the world. Farmers who supply MG operate fresh pasture-based dairy operations, so cows graze freely across wide open spaces. MG transforms the milk into a range of dairy foods that are enjoyed by consumers in Australia and around the world. MG’s vertically integrated business model ensures that it supplies the highest quality product with full traceability.
What is special about the dairy foods MG produces?
Our dairy foods are nutrient-rich and an important part of any healthy diet. They provide essential protein, lipids, vitamins and minerals including calcium to help build and maintain strong bones.
Our manufacturing processes at MG preserve dairy’s natural goodness and present it in a range of delicious products, functional ingredients and specialised nutritional supplements for use in other foods.
Many of our ingredients are important components of other foods and are included in many of the leading consumer food brands. Our research and development team works tirelessly to develop innovative and sustainable solutions tailored to our customers’ changing needs.
How does MG work?
We work with our dairy farmers, who own MG, and our customers to provide a high quality sustainable milk supply that can produce dairy foods that are delicious, nutritious and cost-effective.
The co-operative plays a vital part in the daily lives of dairy farming families. Each day on dairy farms across south eastern Australia, our 400-strong fleet of milk trucks pick up milk on-farm while our field service team are working with farmers to help make their businesses more profitable and sustainable into the future.
MG works with customers to meet their emerging needs through the development of new products or service platforms. Our own research capabilities are reinforced through partnerships with scientists and food research institutes around the world.
What does MG do for the environment?
The health of Australia’s land and waterways is fundamental to the future of MG, making environmental sustainability a priority for our business at the farm and the factory level.
Our environmental commitment goes beyond complying with meeting government requirements and community and market requirements because our dairy farmers’ lifestyles and livelihoods depend upon it.
© Press Release 2013
