Based on an overwhelmingly positive response from last year’s visit, Taranaki will host 38 officials and middle managers from the private sector and non-governmental organisations from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, including Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Myanmar, Laos, Timor Leste, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia during May and June. 

The programme has been expanded to welcome two cohorts and an additional 17 representatives, each visiting the region for two days (doubling the time spent in-region last year). The Taranaki visit will allow the course participants to study local value chains, observe best practices, and gain practical knowledge that they can use for their own country's specific needs. 

The cohort will visit and hear from some of the region's food and beverage success stories, including Barton Holdings, Van Dyck Fine Foods, Juno Gin, Little Liberty Creamery, Texas BBQ Foods, and Roebuck Farms. 

Pictured: ASEAN cohort tours Naki Honey, Lepperton

Funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, these cohorts have received Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships to undertake a Food and Agribusiness Value Chains course delivered by Massey University. 

Massey University's Taranaki Business Development Manager, Eve Kawana-Brown, says, "Massey has world-class leading agricultural technical expertise, including a long history of engagement in the agriculture industry in Asia. We're thrilled that through this course, we can continue to bring these international cohorts to Taranaki to visit industry players and see real-life examples of food and agribusiness value chain management in practice." 

Taranaki is renowned for its food production with a temperate climate, one of the highest sunshine hours in the country, and the ability to grow things well. The region also has capability, skills, suitable land, and entrepreneurial mindsets across the value chain, making for a thriving food ecosystem that has served the region and the regional economy well to date. 

"Our visitors will also hear from Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki about its Branching Out initiative that is supporting value chain diversification opportunities for Taranaki, and from Paora Rauputu, Pouwhakahaere of He Toronga Pahiki ki Taranaki regarding ways in which they support Māori businesses in Taranaki " explains Kawana-Brown. 

Previous visits to New Zealand, funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships Programme, have forged connections between visiting ASEAN cohorts and industry, resulting in new export opportunities. 

Pictured: ASEAN cohort visit Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki to hear from local businesses, and to learn about the Venture Taranaki Branching Out food and fibre project.

"We see the ASEAN scholars’ visit as a significant opportunity to showcase our strengths and to foster global connections as a pathway for prospective export markets, import opportunities, and knowledge sharing across borders," concludes Kawana-Brown. 

Wei Shuan Kimberly Tan, Head of Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation, A*STAR, said “We enjoyed our visit to the region's agrifood gems - small businesses with big hearts, like Texas BBQ Foods, Naki Mānuka Honey, Little Liberty Creamery, Roebuck Farm, Marcels Pancakes and Juno Gin, who are shaping the local food scene with passion and dedication”.  

The second cohort, visiting 07-08 June, is well-timed, with an ASEAN Export Workshop in New Plymouth being held 19 June. The workshop focuses on the growing markets of Southeast Asia. For more information and to register click here. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

The food and Agribusiness Value Chains course investigates concepts and practices of value chain mapping, analysis, management, and performance in the context of innovative agribusiness development. 

The Food and Agribusiness Value Chains programme has been designed explicitly for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships Programme to meet identified needs in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries. 

Associate Professor Ramilan Thiagarajah and Professor Nicola Shadbolt of Massey University have developed the course which consists of field trips, including a Taranaki visit, and presentations from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and Plant and Food Research to provide an overview of NZ value chains and the role MPI plays in New Zealand.  The Taranaki visit of the course is facilitated by Massey University’s Taranaki-based Business Development Manager Eve Kawana-Brown.  

To find out more about ASEAN visit - https://asean.org/what-we-do