Dairy executive upbeat on sector

Robust consumer demand and stringent quality control norms will enable the Chinese dairy sector to play a bigger role in the global market and create a strong platform for sustained industry growth, the top official of a leading global dairy giant said on Tuesday.

Kelvin Wickham, president, greater China and India of New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra, said that during the past two years there have been several significant and positive changes in the Chinese dairy sector, as a result of the growing consumer demand for safe and quality dairy products. The strict government regulations have led to the development of safer dairy products in China, he said.

Though some quality issues had raised trust concerns for the sector in the past, the same has been addressed with better transparency and higher standards, an overall positive for the industry, Wickham said.