25 Feb 2013

Stronger international presence at Fieldays this year

6:26 am on 25 February 2013

Demand for exhibition space at the National Agricultural Fieldays at Mystery Creek is as strong as ever.

Agribusiness sites were sold out some time ago and only a handful of sites in the lifestyle exhibition area are still available for the 45th event, in June.

There will be a stronger international presence this year.

Overseas exhibitors will include a group from Russia and a Canadian dairy company that will be making its first visit here.

Fieldays chief executive Jon Calder said there will also be exhibitors from China, for the first time.

That follows Fieldays representatives' attendance at Yangling Agricultural Hi-Tech Fair in China last year.

Mr Calder said it's likely the international area will be extended to showcase the Chinese group and the international exhibitors from Yangling.

He said a delegation from India, including Government ministers, will also be attending National Fieldays this year.

That stems from a Government-led business mission to India last year.

Mr Calder said there are a couple of progressive dairy farmers associations in the Punjab region which would like the knowledge and expertise that the New Zealand dairy industry can provide in terms of assisting them to improve their knowledge and productivity.

He said an MoU has been signed with the Confederation of Indian Industry which runs a large agricultural show in Chandigarh in the Punjab region called Agro Tech.

"So we now have a formal relationship there and the intention is to host groups at each others respective shows."