October 1, 2010
FrieslandCampina to expand Dairy Development Programme in Asia and Africa
Press Release
FrieslandCampina has plans to further expand its Dairy Development Programme in Asia and West Africa, as a result of the strong growth of the dairy markets in these countries.
The further expansion of the programme has great social importance. Sybren Attema, vice-chairman of the Members' Board of Zuivelcoöperatie FrieslandCampina UA and the Supervisory Board of Royal FrieslandCampina NV, has agreed to manage the Dairy Development Programme when he steps down on December15, 2010.
In addition to his practical knowledge of dairy farming, his many years of experience at FrieslandCampina and his contacts with public authorities are particularly important. On February 1, 2011, he will join FrieslandCampina and will be based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
FrieslandCampina's Dairy Development Programme is part of its corporate social responsibility programme and aims to contribute to the development of local dairy farms and strengthen the rural communities in which dairy farmers work. It is targeted at the Asian and African markets in which FrieslandCampina operates, such as Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Nigeria.
"In consultation with my family, my life will be taking an entirely new turn. This challenge will enable me to carry on contributing to FrieslandCampina and to use my knowledge, experience and network to engage in activities with an added social responsibility value," Attema said.
"I have spent my entire working life as a dairy farmer and have very much enjoyed my 18 years as member of the members' board. Quitting dairy farming won't be easy, but it does offer me the opportunity to try something completely different. We don't have a successor for our own dairy farm. We will stop farming and then my wife and I will be relocating to Vietnam, where I will be working as regional manager dairy development," he said.
