The Friesian - Business development company

the Friesian is a dynamic, growing, results oriented, and innovative business development company acknowledging a heritage of 120 years of international experience.

the Friesian, trading name of The Friesian Agro Consultancy b.v., has transformed from an agro consultancy company to a business development company in response to enquiries from companies looking to successfully realise new investment projects to increase export volume, realise start-up production and turnover through Joint Ventures or acquisitions in emerging markets.

The combined experience of more than 250 agriculture (dairy, livestock, potatoes, fruit and vegetables, food and food industry) and non-agriculture projects in 41 countries as well as an extensive international and national network puts the Friesian in a leading position in The Netherlands. Today the Friesian has international offices in Romania, Russia, Serbia and Croatia and will soon have local support in China and Ukraine.

Click on Services to read more about our company's activities...

LATEST NEWS

The Friesian joins the NRM fair in Utrecht at friday the 25th and sathurday the 26th of June

Visit our stand at the fair, all our projectmanagers are available. For more information, please contact:

1. Study "Identification of a suitable form of organisation for dairy farmers in Vietnam".

The Friesian and Rabo International Advisory Services were invited to execute a mission to Vietnam to assist Vietnamese diary industry to develop a suitable organization form for their smallholder dairy farmers.

This industry is aiming for a group of milk suppliers which can guarantee a stable supply of good quality of milk. Therefore increasing of the scale of operations and reduction of costs at farm level are needed to create a sustainable way of dairy farming.

Rabobank Foundation and The Friesian are developing together three case studies in Africa regarding investigation of possibilities for food production for local population and eventually for export by means of cooperation between local entrepreneurs, Dutch farmers, local banks, Rabobank and Ministry of Development Cooperation (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

For more information, please contact director of The Friesian, Mr. Siebren van der Zwaag, E-mail: s.v.d.zwaag@thefriesian.nl.

At the moment we are executing for a number of dairy factories in different countries projects to introduce quality risk management systems in milk.

In the framework of our 2@there Ukraine project (http://www.infomoloko.com.ua/) we are executing the SWOT analysis on the 10 farm with the aim to reduce the costs of milk production and improve the quality of the milk with minimum investments.

5. Prevention of antibiotics and improving of heat stability of raw milk for large milk processing company in Eastern Europe.

In the frame of this project we are developing and delivering the total concept of high quality raw milk production avoiding as much as possible the use of antibiotics to our client.

For more information, please contact director of The Friesian, Mr. Siebren van der Zwaag, E-mail: s.v.d.zwaag@thefriesian.nl.

Siebren van der Zwaag has launched an idea of setting up a Dutch Dairy Center with a goal to promote export activities of Dutch campanies in the dairy chain. Read more in the article of "Leeuwarder Courant" from 8 April 2010 (in Dutch) LANDBOUW MOET SNEL RENDEREN

For more information about the project, please contact Mrs. Natalia Tchernycheva

In the period from 24^th till 28^th May 2010, in the framework of 2g@there Dairy Sector Ukraine project, The Friesian is organizing an incoming trade mission from Ukraine. A group of 10 specialists from Ukraine (milk – producers and milk – processors) will visit farms and milk – processing plants in the Netherlands. The representatives of Ukrainian milk sector will also have a possibility for the matchmaking with the Dutch companies. A more detailed program will follow.

1. In the period from 3d till 5^th February 2010, the Friesian/Infomoloko took part in the International Agro Fair InterAgro in Kiev. This exhibition had a great number of visitors this year. During the fair, a number of forums and “round tables” took place. The Friesian had a chance to present the Infomoloko project in the Round Table organized by Mrs. Gulnara Ibraeva, the chef – editor of “Animal Industry Today”, and in the Dutch – Ukrainian Agro Forum, organized by the Embassy of the Netherlands in Kiev and Ukrainian Agro-business Club.

2. In December 2009, The Friesian has started the implementation of the feasibility study Identification and Preparation of Project Possibilities for the Dutch Dairy Sector in Ukraine. In this study, 10 Ukrainian companies (7 farms and 3 milk – processing plants) are taking part. Each Ukrainian company taking part in the study, will receive an expert analysis (zero – scan) from two Dutch experts. Then, on the basis of this zero – scan, an action plan for the company will be made. This action plan will include the recommendations of the experts with regard to the productivity, health problems, etc. The focus of the action plan will be put on how to increase productivity of the cows without major investments. The second visit of the experts will take place after two-three months for the final advice and consultations.

From the 6^th till the 11^th December 2009, the first visit of the experts took place. They visited first two farms in Ukraine for the analysis. The next visit of the experts took place from the 31^st of January till 6^th of February 2010. The third one is planned in the period from 22^nd till 28^th of February 2010.

3. At this moment, The Friesian is busy with starting up of four Demonstration Projects in the framework of Infomoloko project. The demonstration projects will cover the following aspects: manure storage system, young calves rearing in Ukraine, innovative cheese making machine and management software.

4. The agreement to cooperate in the framework of training/curriculum development between the Friesian and the Veterinary Faculty of State Agrarian Academy in Kiev (Ukraine) has been signed. The Friesian is planning to start this project in February 2010.

1. In the period from 25^th till 27^th February 2010, Dairy Congress organized by the Association of Dairy Producers Dykun will take place in Kiev. More than 130 Ukrainian dairy producers will take part in this event. The Friesian/Infomoloko will take part in this congress. More info about the Congress could be found on: http://dairycongress.org/2010/eng/index.html

2. In the period from 24^st till 28^th of May 2010, an incoming Dairy Trade mission from Ukraine will be organized by The Friesian and NCH in the framework of Infomoloko project. A group of 15 milk producers and milk processors from Ukraine will visit a number of farms and milk – processing plants in the Netherlands. There will be also a seminar about the dairy sector in Ukraine and the possibility to talk individually to Ukrainian companies (matchmaking). A detailed program will follow shortly.

If you would like to have more information about the project, please contact:

The Friesian Christmas Reception, 11 December 2009

The traditional 'Kerstborrel 2009' took place at the office of The Friesian on the 11 of December.

The Friesian invited colleagues, partners and clients to celebrate Christmas at its Christmas Reception with snacks, drinks and of course 'oliebollen'. This year about 35-40 persons attended the celebration. Mr. Galema, the deputy of Province Friesland, was one of the guests at our Christmas Reception. Siebren van der Zwaag, the director of the company, gave a speech and thanked Mr. S. Galema for the initiative of bringing the Research Center Nij Waiboerhoeve / WUR to the province Friesland, on behalf of all Agro related companies in Friesland.

The Friesian team also would like to thank our valued colleague Mr. Ryken Folkertsma, who has temporary health problems, for coming to the reception. We wish him the soonest recovery! A word of thank also to our veterinary students: Geraldine Haverkamp and Erik Apperlo (absent) for their energetic works regarding protocols (input Milk Quality)! A successful practical period in Russia (near Moscow) on a large scale dairy farming enterprise, completed this period!

We would like to thank all the guests who came to The Friesian Christmas Reception and wish to all Merry Christmas and happy and healthy 2010!

Photo's: 1. Ben Habers, Jan Castelein, Jos ten Horn, John Bonnier and Wytze Heida.

2. Sjoerd Galema and Siebren van der Zwaag.

3. Staff and guests of The Friesian

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Vietnamese mission: 3 December 2009

Vice Minister of Industry and Trade, Mr. Nguyen Nam Hai, has visited Dairy Province Friesland on the 3 of December 2009. The Vietnamese Embassy in The Hague contacted The Friesian to organize a compact visit for the Vice Minister from Vietnam (Hanoi). The delegation visited Nij Bosma Zathe, a reseach farm near Leeuwarden. In the afternoon the guests paid a visit to the Friesland Campina premises in Leeuwarden for an introduction and a tour in the factory.

Photo's: 1. The first milking robot ever seen by the Vise Minister of Vietnam.

2. The Vietnamese delegation together with The Friesian specialists: Mr. Rudie Brok and Mr. Wytze Heida.

1. The Friesian has submitted the PESP proposal Identification and Preparation of Project Possibilities for the Dutch Dairy Sector in Ukraine. The proposal was accepted by EVD. In the short while The Friesian plans to send the first experts to Ukraine.

2. At this moment, The Friesian is busy with starting up of four Demonstration Projects in the framework of Infomoloko project. The demonstration projects will cover the following aspects: manure storage system, young calves rearing in Ukraine, innovative cheese making machine and management software.

3. G2G program and the training program are the project activities that will be started by The Friesian/Infomoloko autumn 2009.

1. In the period of 2 till 5 November 2009, The Friesian (together with NCH) has executed a Dairy Trade mission to Ukraine. A group of 9 Dutch companies have been to Ukraine with this mission. On the 1^st day the group made two collective visits: one to Wimm Bill Dann – one of the biggest milk – processing plants in Ukraine at this moment, and the second visit – to the farm Ukrainian Milk Factory with more than 3500 dairy cows.

On the evening of the 1st day, all the participants of the mission were invited to the network reception organized by Counselor for Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality in Kiev Mr. Meeuwes Brouwer. There more than 30 Ukrainian guests at the reception as well.

The 2nd day of the mission began with the seminar opened by Mr. Meeuwes Brouwer. Four speakers made their presentations during the seminar:

· Mr. Nikolay Butenko, Vice – President of Ukrainian Union of Dairy Enterprises

After these four presentations, all the Dutch participants of the mission had a chance to present their company and their product/service to the Ukrainian auditory.

After the seminar, all the participants were invited for lunch, and then continued with the matchmaking. Around 30 Ukrainian companies took place at the seminar and the matchmaking on the 4th of November in Kiev. A number of business leads have been made.

1. In the period from 7th till 9th December 2009, two Ukrainian journalist will visit the Netherlands (in the framework of Infomoloko project). They will visit a farm and a milk – processing plant in Netherlands, as well as NZO (Dutch Dairy Organization).

2. In the period from 3d till 5 February 2010, InterAgro – an agro fair – takes place in Kiev. Infomoloko/The Friesian takes part in this exhibition.

3. In spring 2010, an incoming Dairy Trade mission from Ukraine will be organized by The Friesian and NCH. A group of milk producers and milk processors from Ukraine will visit a number of farms and milk – processing plants in the Netherlands. There will be also a seminar and the possibility to talk individually to Ukrainian companies. A more detailed info will follow.

If you would like to have more information about the project, please contact:

Tailor made business trip ‘Dutch technology of making maize silage’

By request of one of our client from Russia The Friesian has organized a tailor made business trip ‘Dutch technology of making maize silage’. Our client from a big agricultural enterprise nearby Moscow was particularly interested in implementation of the technology of making maize silage which provides good quality roughage through the whole year.

During the trip by the end of September there were several farms visited in the province of Friesland which were busy with maize silage making. The client was guided by our young expert Rudie Brok.

Information meeting The Progress and the Perspetives of 2@there Dairy Sector Ukraine Project

On the 18th of September 2009, The Friesian has organized an information meeting The Progress and the Perspectives of 2g@there Dairy Sector Ukraine Project. The information meeting took place on board of the boat Klifrak, which saled along the Friesian lakes.

The cluster Dagin companies; the H.E. Vasyl Korzachenko, Ambassador of Ukraine to the Kingdom of the Netherlands; Mr. Meeuwes Brouwer, Counsellor for Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality in Kiev (Ukraine); Mrs. Hannie Weringa, project advisor EVD Internationaal ondernemen en samenwerken; representatives of the Dutch Ministry for Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality have taken part in this event.

The meeting started with four presentations from the guest speakers:

1st presentation – Mr. Vasyl Korzachenko, His Excellency Ambassador of Ukraine in The Netherlands “Recent Economic Developments in Ukraine”

2nd presentation – Mr. Meeuwes Brouwer, Counsellor for Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality in Kiev “Recent Developments in Agricultural Sector of Ukraine”

3d presentation – Mrs. Hannie Weringa, Project Advisor, Ministry of Economic Affairs, EVD “The Instruments of EVD to Facilitate the Cooperation between Dutch and Ukrainian Companies”

4th presentation – Mr. Andrey Dykun, Director of Dykun Agro – Consultancy in Kiev “Opportunities of the Dairy Sector of Ukraine”.

After the presentations, all the participants had an opportunity to ask questions to the guest speakers and to talk to each other informally. A lot of interesting discussions took place during the meeting. The guests were also offered the refreshments and BBQ buffet.

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Dairy Support Centre in Moscow has got a new office

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Our daughter company in Moscow has moved to a new office in Moscow and offers an office facilities for rent. There are two working places available. Rent 650 US dollars per month. We provide a meeting room, office equipment and kitchen facilities as well. The office costs like phone calls and internet are not included into the rent price. We are locketed in Svobody str., 29, office 320, metro station Tushinskaya; phone/fax: +7 495 661 8705. The address in Russian is: 125362, Москва, ул. Свободы, 29 офис 320. You are welcome!

First ring-testing First ring-testing on Total Bacteria Count in raw milk executed in Romania

NRCH Network Event with the Ambassador of the Russian Federation, 1 July 2009

Dutch Centre for Trade Promotion (NRCH) has organized unique and stylish opening of the summer 2009. It was a great boat trio with the opportunity to walk on the bottom of the Waddenzee and delicious lunch with Russian touch.

The Event was opened by the Ambassador of the Russian Federation, Mr. Kirill G. Gevorgian and chairman of the NRCH, Mr. Bernard Zonneveld. Representatives from 43 different companies and organisations which deal with Russia were gathered on board and had a great opportunity to meet each other and exchange their experience in doing business in Russia.

In December 2009, The Friesian has started the implementation of the feasibility study Identification and Preparation of Project Possibilities for the Dutch Dairy Sector in Ukraine. In this study, 10 Ukrainian companies (7 farms and 3 milk – processing plants) are taking part. Each Ukrainian company taking part in the study, will receive an expert analysis (zero – scan) from two Dutch experts. Then, on the basis of this zero – scan, an action plan for the company will be made. This action plan will include the recommendations of the experts with regard to the productivity, health problems, etc. The focus of the action plan will be put on how to increase productivity of the cows without major investments. The second visit of the experts will take place after two-three months for the final advice and consultations.
From the 25^th till 27^th March 2010, two experts of The Friesian visited the farm Shipanivske (Rivne region) for the 2^nd time. The 1^st visit to this Ukrainian farm (405 dairy cows) took place in December 2009. During that visit, the experts made zero-scan and SWOT analysis of the farm taking different parameters into account. After the 1^st visit of the experts, the owner of the farm Shipanivske got an action plan with the detailed description of the aspects of his farm which could be changed without massive investments and that will lead to the considerable improvements in milk production. In three months time (between the 1^st and the 2^nd visit), a number of aspects mentioned in the action plan have been improved. For example: the ventilation of the farm has been improved, the milking methods have been changed, the cows have been regrouped according to the lactation period. All these changes have led to an increase in the milk production per cow. The expected result of the realized changes - 500 kg milk more per cow towards the end of 2010.
The agreement to cooperate in the framework of Curriculum Development between the Friesian, University of Utrecht and the Veterinary Faculty of State Agrarian Academy in Kiev (Ukraine) has been signed. The orientation mission of The Friesian took place in February 2010. At this moment, The Friesian is busy with the formulation of the following project that will focus on the development of a new course for the veterinary medicine for the students of the Faculty of State Agrarian Academy in Kiev (Ukraine).
The proposal of The Friesian and CRV for the G2G program Recording and Processing of Dairy Herd Data in Ukraine (in the framework of Infomoloko) project has been made and delivered at EVD. The information about the progress of this project will follow.

In the period from 24^st till 28^th of May 2010, an incoming Dairy Trade mission from Ukraine will be organized by The Friesian and NCH in the framework of Infomoloko project. A group of 12 milk producers and milk processors from Ukraine will visit a number of farms and milk – processing plants in the Netherlands. On 27^th of May in Wageningen a seminar about the Dairy Sector in Ukraine (for the Dutch companies) will take place. One of the speakers at the seminar – Mr. Meeuwes Brouwer, Counselor for Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Kiev (Ukraine), who will make a presentation about the situation in the dairy sector in Ukraine and the possibilities for the Dutch dairy companies at this moment. After the seminar and lunch, matchmaking between the Dutch and Ukrainian companies will take place.

1. Study "Identification of a suitable form of organisation for dairy farmers in Vietnam".

For more information, please contact director of The Friesian, Mr. Siebren van der Zwaag, E-mail: s.v.d.zwaag@thefriesian.nl.

At the moment we are executing for a number of dairy factories in different countries projects to introduce quality risk management systems in milk.

5. Prevention of antibiotics and improving of heat stability of raw milk for large milk processing company in Eastern Europe.

In the frame of this project we are developing and delivering the total concept of high quality raw milk production avoiding as much as possible the use of antibiotics to our client.

For more information, please contact director of The Friesian, Mr. Siebren van der Zwaag, E-mail: s.v.d.zwaag@thefriesian.nl.

Piet Bijman, Siebren van der Zwaag, Kririll Gevorgian and Nika Neelova

Siebren van der Zwaag, Kririll Gevorgian and Nika Neelova

Jan Lok, Siebren van der Zwaag and Evert Jan Krajenbrink

on the right are Bernard Zonneveld and Siebren van der Zwaag

In the frame of the visit of the President of the Russian Federation Mr. Medvedev to the Netherlands there was a seminar on business opportunities in Russia organized at European centre for Art, Culture and Science, Felix Meritis, in Amsterdam 19 June 2009.

The Russia Event was organized by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and The Agency for International Business and Cooperation (EVD) and opened by State Secretary Frank Heemskerk. During the seminar different question regarding doing business in Russia and current difficulties caused by the financial crisis have been discussed. There was an opportunity to ask question regarding bilateral cooperation to the Agricultural Attaché representing the Netherlands in Russia and representatives of Dutch Business Support Offices in Russia.

There were three round tables: Agribusiness, Sustainable energy and Maritime and Offshore industry.

The Friesian took part in two round tables during the Russia Event, namely in Agribusiness, where Siebren van der Zwaag made a presentation of four year LEC project of The Friesian in Russia and in Sustainable energy where The Friesian was mentioned as one of the consortium partner in the ‘Biogas project in Russia’ by Robert van der Geest, Manager Operating Reseach of N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie.

By the end of the round table session the Info market took place. The Friesian had two stands (The Friesian itself and LEC project) with a lot of hand out materials on our projects so we had an opportunity to meet all participants of the Russia Event who were interested in our company and the projects and ask their questions.

BelAgro 2009 Exhibition in Minsk, Belarus

In the period from the 2^nd June 2009 till the 5^th of June 2009, a group of five Dagin Dairy Farming companies (De Boer Stalinrichting, Gallagher, Steenbergen, Rovecom ICT and Uniform - Agri) have participated in the agrofair BelAgro 2009 in Minsk, Belarus. The Friesian organized the booth, the production of a Dagin banner and Dagin Farming poster and helped the participating companies with translation during the exhibition.

The exhibition took place on two premises: one part was at the exhibition complex, where the Dagin group had a stand; the other part was outside the city on a field, where there was mainly machinery, tractors and some animals. Around 220 companies have been presented at the main exhibition complex. The majority of the companies were companies from Belarus, plus a number of companies from Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithonia, Serbia, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Turkey, Austria, USA (1 company), China (1 company) and the Netherlands (4 companies).

The purpose of the visit for the Dagin companies was to orient in the market of Belarus as it is a new market for all the companies that took part in the visit. This fact finding purpose has been accomplished: it became clear who are the main players in the market and how the tender system in Belarus works. Furthermore it is for sure that if a foreign company wants to start selling their products in Belarus, the governmental structure is still of great importance not to forget. Belarus is still a communistic country, where most of the (commercial) farms for example are still state owned and local people prefer to cooperate with local representatives /dealers.

General Information agriculture in Belarus

In 2008, the GDP share of agricultural production in Belarus was over 8%. The volume of production grew by 9% that year. The agricultural sector employed 10% of the country’s workforce. Belarus still continues the implementation of the ‘Programme for the Renovation and Development of Rural Communities 2005-2010’, which has been designed to keep agricultural producers adjusted to new market realities, increase efficiency and production volumes of the competitive commodities on foreign markets. Global financial and economic crisis caused Belarus less damage than other countries in Europe, US and Russia.

SC Friesian SRL organised the Dutch pavilion at AGRARIA fair - Cluj-Napoca 6-10 May 2009

SC Friesian SRL had the honour to organise on behalf of the Royal Netherlands Embassy (Bucharest) and The Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture the Dutch pavilion at the upcoming AGRARIA fair at Cluj-Napoca.

SC Friesian SRL was responsible for the organization and promotion of the stand in which 12 Dutch companies were represented. These 12 Dutch companies were covering various sectors ranging from animal husbandry, green houses, pigs, fruit & vegetable sorting and packing, consultancy, milk cooling. Furthermore, The Friesian in co-operation with the NSBO office at Cluj, had organised match making with potential Romanian clients for the Dutch companies.

For more information you can contact Irina Gheorghe at irina.gheorghe@friesian.ro

Tailor made business trips

One of the activities of The Friesian is providing of professional tailor made business excursions for clients.

In the beginning of May our client from Moscow, accompanied by our experts, experienced unique locations in The Netherlands related to dairy, sheep and goat farms as well as medium sized cheese processing farms and milk processing companies.

The first training at PTC Plus in The Netherlands under
the LEC project

PTC Plus as one of the consortium partner in the LEC project has undertaken the first Trainings-of-Trainers courses in Barneveld and Oenkerk. These courses took place from 29 March to 25 April 2009 for 17 trainers from the practical centers in Naberezhnie Chelny, Belgorod and Saransk.

Within the framework of the Dutch-Romanian bilateral co-operation support is provided in the institutional development to support the improvement of raw milk quality. One of the intended results is implementation of a national system for ring-testing on all Romanian laboratories who are testing raw milk on Total bacteria Count and Somatic Cell Count.

To teach the Romanian expert of National Institute of Veterinary Hygiene and Health at Bucharest to prepare unique samples to send to all labs a two-day workshop was held by the project lead by Dr. Dick Van den Berg. The training comprise theoretical and practical exercises in sample preparation and assessment of testing result. At the of workshop 82 duplo set of milk samples were prepared and send by fast courier to the 41 regional laboratories of National Veterinary organisation. These 41 labs are the first labs to be subject to ring-testing and in due time all raw milk quality labs will be included in these tests.

This ring-test is the first ever conducted in Romania. The project is implemented by the consultancy company FRIESIAN SRL.

On the 25th of March you can find us at our stand on International Trade Day in Hampshire Hotel Plaza Groningen. We will represent our projects and business opportunities in Russia and Ukraine. You are at your service if you have any inquiries or plans to do business in Russian and Ukraine.

In December 2009, The Friesian has started the implementation of the feasibility study Identification and Preparation of Project Possibilities for the Dutch Dairy Sector in Ukraine. In this study, 10 Ukrainian companies (7 farms and 3 milk – processing plants) are taking part. Each Ukrainian company taking part in the study, will receive an expert analysis (zero – scan) from two Dutch experts. Then, on the basis of this zero – scan, an action plan for the company will be made. This action plan will include the recommendations of the experts with regard to the productivity, health problems, etc. The focus of the action plan will be put on how to increase productivity of the cows without major investments. The second visit of the experts will take place after two-three months for the final advice and consultations.
From the 25^th till 27^th March 2010, two experts of The Friesian visited the farm Shipanivske (Rivne region) for the 2^nd time. The 1^st visit to this Ukrainian farm (405 dairy cows) took place in December 2009. During that visit, the experts made zero-scan and SWOT analysis of the farm taking different parameters into account. After the 1^st visit of the experts, the owner of the farm Shipanivske got an action plan with the detailed description of the aspects of his farm which could be changed without massive investments and that will lead to the considerable improvements in milk production. In three months time (between the 1^st and the 2^nd visit), a number of aspects mentioned in the action plan have been improved. For example: the ventilation of the farm has been improved, the milking methods have been changed, the cows have been regrouped according to the lactation period. All these changes have led to an increase in the milk production per cow. The expected result of the realized changes - 500 kg milk more per cow towards the end of 2010.
The agreement to cooperate in the framework of Curriculum Development between the Friesian, University of Utrecht and the Veterinary Faculty of State Agrarian Academy in Kiev (Ukraine) has been signed. The orientation mission of The Friesian took place in February 2010. At this moment, The Friesian is busy with the formulation of the following project that will focus on the development of a new course for the veterinary medicine for the students of the Faculty of State Agrarian Academy in Kiev (Ukraine).
The proposal of The Friesian and CRV for the G2G program Recording and Processing of Dairy Herd Data in Ukraine (in the framework of Infomoloko) project has been made and delivered at EVD. The information about the progress of this project will follow.

The Friesian is busy with further realization of 2g@there Dairy Sector Ukraine project.

1. The Friesian has finished the Market Survey Dairy Sector Ukraine. The Market Survey is available for all Dutch dairy companies interested to enter Ukraine. You can find the complete Market Survey on the site of EVD: www.evd.nl/231153.

2. On the 10th October 2008, The Friesian has submitted the PESP proposal “Identification and Preparation of Project Possibilities for the Dutch Dairy Sector in Ukraine”. The proposal was accepted by EVD. In the short while The Friesian plans to send the first experts to Ukraine.

3. In the period from 21^st of April till 24^th of April 2009, in the framework of Infomoloko project, The Friesian (together with NCH) has organized an incoming mission of milk producers from Ukraine to the Netherlands.

On the 22^nd, the program began with a mini-seminar about the milk production sector in the Netherlands. Three speakers took part in the seminar and gave the group participants the general view about the milk production in the Netherlands. The mini-seminar ended with a tour around Nij Bosma Zathe (pilot farm of the Wageningen University in Goutum). After lunch, the group continued the program with the visit to the farm of Mr Brouwer (Langezwaag) and the visit to the milk control laboratory Nijland.

The next day the program began with the visit to the Van Bakel farm. At the same time in The Hague, the Dutch participants have gathered for the seminar about the milk production sector in Ukraine. In the afternoon, the group joined the Dutch participants in The Hague for the matchmaking. Mr. Frans Lavooij, Chairman Dutch – Ukrainian Center for Trade Promotion (NOCH) and H.E. Vasyl Korzachenko, Ambassador of Ukraine to the Kingdom of the Netherlands officially opened the matchmaking in The Hague.

20 Dutch companies were present on that day in The Hague for the individual talks with the Ukrainian representatives. Each Ukrainian participants had about 5 individual talks with the representatives of the Dutch companies.

On the last day of the visit, 24^th of April, the group visited the farm Van der Wel, where the Ukrainian guests could see the modern manure storage system.

During the meeting, a number of presentations will take place. After the official part, the participants will be offered refreshments and barbecue on board (the detailed program will be available soon).

The Dutch companies which are interested to take part in this information meeting are welcome! The participation fee is 60 Euro per person. The amount of places is limited.

If you would like to register for this event, please mail to Mrs. Natalia Tchernycheva (The Friesian): n.tchernycheva@thefriesian.nl or call +31 (058) 216 72 66.

If you are interested to take part in this mission, please contact Mrs. Natalia Tchernycheva (The Friesian): n.tchernycheva@thefriesian.nl

2nd Ukrainian Dairy Congress in Kiev, 27-28

February 2009

As it was already mentioned in the News Letter of Infomoloko project from Janary-February 2009 on our web site, 2nd Ukrainian Dairy Congress in Kiev took place 27-28 February 2009 and has a goal to create a single platform for discussions and cooperation in the field of dairy cattle breeding in Ukraine.

Infomoloko was one of the sponsors of the Congress in Kiev. Siebren van der Zwaag has presented Infomoloko project during the Congress.

Moscow, 17 February. In The Russian Union of industrialists and Entrepreneurs took place next round of consultations by representatives of Work group in agricultural of Russian-Dutch dialog in trade and economic cooperation. In the meeting assisted Siebren van der Zwaag –Director of company The “Friesian”, Natalia Romashkina – Director of LLC Dairy Support Center , from Russian side – Presiding Commissioner of RSPP in agroindustrial complex I.A. Obolonzev, vice-chairman, executive secretary of RSPP Committee in agroindustrial complex N. I. Borisov, General Director of Coordinating Analytic Center of Agroindustrial complex P.S. Vintovkin, Director of Department of International Cooperation of RSPP A.V. Kuznetsov, Deputy Director of Department of International Cooperation of RSPP A.N. Drantusov.

Central question of the meeting, that took place on 17 of February, was discussion of questions of bilateral cooperation, including such fields as selection of animals and plants, adoption of new technologies, modernization of processing enterprises, training of specialists.

Presiding Commissioner of RSPP in agroindustrial complex I.A. Obolontsev noted that 15% of all poultry meat and 40% of eggs in Russia is produced from pedigree material, imported from The Netherlands. Numbers of large joint projects in selection of animals are implemented in Russia. At present projects of regional cooperation with enterprises are implemented in more that 20 regions of Russia, including Moscowkaya, Leningradskaya, Samarskaya, Sverdlovskaya, Kalujskaya regions, Republic of Bashkortostan. Russia for The Netherlands is also the first-rate outlet of soy oil meal, which is connected with high growth rate of demand from the side of Russian animal husbandry and especially of poultry.

Russian side now in the first place is interested not in purchase of agricultural raw materials or foodstuff, but in equipment, technologies, positive experience of Dutch entrepreneurs in a field of stock breeding, producing and processing of meet, and also perspectives in organization of joint enterprises of modern kinds of equipment for agroindustrial complex.

Sides agreed in the nearest time to conduct monitoring of implementing joint Russian-Dutch projects in agroindustrial complex, organizer of this work will be Department of international cooperation of RSPP.
Organize in June 2009 in Moscow joint seminar and discuss main approaches in reducing costs and increasing effectiveness of agricultural producing.

Siebren van der Zwaag invited Russian entrepreneurs to visit The Netherlands in the end of 2009 for the purpose of getting to know on-site new technologies in agroindustrial complex.

The Friesian is busy with further realization of 2g@there Dairy Sector Ukraine project.

2. On the 10th October 2008, The Friesian has submitted the PESP proposal “Identification and Preparation of Project Possibilities for the Dutch Dairy Sector in Ukraine”. The proposal was accepted by EVD. The Friesian plans to send the first experts to Ukraine in February - March 2009.

1. In the period from 4^th till 6^th February 2009, in Kiev (Ukraine), a 5^th International Exhibition of Agriculture InterAgro 2009 took place. The Friesian on behalf of Infomoloko took part at this exhibition.

On the 4^th of February, the first day of the fair, Mr Meeuwes Brouwer, Counsellor for Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality in Kiev, has opened Infomoloko stand with a short introduction about the project. During this introduction, a promo – film Infomoloko has been shown. The CD with the film together with the interactive program including the information about the cluster companies participating in Infomoloko project and the links to their sites will be available for all the cluster companies.

2. On the 27th and 28th February 2009, 2nd Ukrainian Dairy Congress is organized in Kiev. Its goal is to create a single platform for discussions and cooperation in the field of dairy cattle breeding in Ukraine.

· create a unique single information platform in the field of dairy cattlebreeding in Ukraine

· unite the dairy producers in order to increase the profitability of Ukrainian dairy businesses in general

Infomoloko is sponsoring this dairy event and presents the project Infomoloko during the congress.

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Dairy Support Centre in Moscow has got a new office

First ring-testing First ring-testing on Total Bacteria Count in raw milk executed in Romania

NRCH Network Event with the Ambassador of the Russian Federation, 1 July 2009

BelAgro 2009 Exhibition in Minsk, Belarus

SC Friesian SRL organised the Dutch pavilion at AGRARIA fair - Cluj-Napoca 6-10 May 2009

Tailor made business trips

The first training at PTC Plus in The Netherlands underthe LEC project

2nd Ukrainian Dairy Congress in Kiev, 27-28 February 2009

The first training at PTC Plus in The Netherlands under
the LEC project

2nd Ukrainian Dairy Congress in Kiev, 27-28

February 2009