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Dairy Board banks on Clover deal
Business Section
By Mthunzi Maziya - SWAZI OBSERVER-08-Jun-2010
Swaziland Dairy Board (SDB) is nursing hopes that its proposal for Clover South Africa to set base in the country would succeed.
In a report, SDB said Clover’s opening of a processing plant in the country would have significant results in resolving the country’s milk shortfall.
The organisation said it hoped that the deal would have positive spin-offs in terms of availability of quality dairy products, employment opportunities, and a competitive environment.
The Public Enterprise unit has noted that SDB’s profits increased by 44% at the end of the third quarter of last year, which was lower compared to results of the second quarter. At the time, the parastatal was seen as not have liquidity problems as it was in a position to meet its short-term obligations.
In the same report to the PEU, SDB said it was working closely with Swaziland Water and agricultural Development Enterprise (SWADE), towards finalisation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two organisations.
Given the time it takes for PEU reports to be published, such an agreement may have long been accomplished.
“SWADE saw an opportunity in the dairy industry for farmers under their diversification programme, and it is envisaged that upon signing of the MoU, centres where processors could collect milk would be established,” reads the report.
On another note, the company said it was continuing negotiations with Swaziland Industrial Development Company (SIDC) to lure Italian dairy investors into the country. Notably, the Head of State, His Majesty King Mswati III is in Italy, and has met and encouraged the Italian dairy industry to come into the country to assist in bridging the shortfall in milk production.
Comment was sought from SDB yesterday, but to no avail as the CEO Tony Dlamini was locked in a meeting.
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