Wednesday 10 April 2013
Media Release: AsureQuality and PwC New Zealand
Partnership To Offer Significant Benefits For New Zealand And China Agriculture Industries
Beijing, China: New Zealand Government-owned AsureQuality and PwC New Zealand have today signed a collaboration
framework agreement with China Mengniu Dairy Company Limited and COFCO Corporation to investigate the development of a
China New Zealand agribusiness service and Food Safety Centre of Excellence in China.
Initially AsureQuality and PwC will work with Mengniu and COFCO on a dairy-related food safety and farm assurance
project. As the partnership evolves it is expected that additional New Zealand commercial and research entities with
expertise in other areas of the agricultural sector will be brought in.
AsureQuality's CEO Mr Michael Thomas and PwC New Zealand's CEO Mr Bruce Hassall, who signed the agreement in Beijing
today, say, "This agreement acknowledges the expertise held by AsureQuality, and the benefits that formal collaboration
offers for us, and potentially the wider New Zealand agribusiness sector, in the Chinese market.
"We believe this partnership agreement will enable New Zealand’s world-class food safety models, agricultural systems
and skill sets to be provided on a commercial basis in China.
“As we sign this agreement today, we acknowledge the inaugural New Zealand China Council Partnership Forum led by the
Prime Minister John Key, the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations, and the fifth anniversary of the China New
Zealand Free Trade Agreement, all of which reinforce the strong relationship between New Zealand and China.”
The partnership also has the support of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) and is the result of extensive research
work commissioned by NZTE and carried out by PwC in 2012 to identify international opportunities for New Zealand’s
agribusiness sector. In addition, agritechnology is a sector of focus for New Zealand in China, as outlined in the NZ
Inc China Strategy.
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AsureQuality is a commercial company wholly owned by the New Zealand Government. The company’s corporate headquarters are located in
Auckland, New Zealand, with subsidiaries in Australia and Singapore.
AsureQuality provides an extensive range of internationally accredited audit, inspection, certification, training and
laboratory testing services, from the farm through to the supermarket shelf, for food producers, processors and
Government Authorities in more than 40 countries around the world. www.asurequality.com
China Mengniu Dairy Company Limited and its subsidiaries manufacture and distribute quality dairy products in China. It is one of the leading dairy product
manufacturers in China, with MENGNIU as the core brand.
COFCO Corporation is the largest supplier of diversified products and services in the agricultural products and food industry in China. It
is devoted to utilizing renewable natural resources to provide healthy and nutritious food, high quality lifestyle and
services, as well as contributing to improve people’s living standards, social prosperity and stability.
PwC helps organisations and individuals create the value they’re looking for. We’re a network of firms in 158 countries
with more than 180,000 people who are committed to delivering quality in assurance, tax and advisory services PwC refers
to the PwC network and/or one or more of its member firms, each of which is a separate legal entity. www.pwc.com
ENDS