Meat export drive in Singapore

Press, 23 April 1980, Page 27

Meat export drive in Singapore

NZPA Singapore Singapore is becoming a major market of New Zealand meat. There has been significant increases in the import of lamb and beef over the past few years, said the assistant general manager of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board (Mr Maurice Jones).

“Last year New Zealand sold nearly 4000 tonnes of beef and lamb there, making Singapore one of the best markets in Asia for New Zealand meat.” Mr Jones said at the Food Asia exhibition at the Hyatt Hotel, Singapore.

The board, and the New Zealand Meat Exporters’ Council, are showing a complete range of lamb and beef cuts on their stand. Mr Jones pointed out that Singapore differs from the other markets in that it imports mainly prime cuts and this accounts for the Republic’s status as a high quality market. Part of this can be attributed to growing sophistication of the population. The other reason is the large tourist hotel market.

“Singapore, is a major destination for meat airfreighted from New Zealand. It ranks highest in the Asian region with about 350 tonnes of meat last year. Airfreighting to Singapore has been on the rise because of the many regular scheduled flights that serve the country.” said Mr Jones. Six hundred kgs of meat have been brought .in specially for display, and this will be "donated to Singapore charities.

Mrs Tang See Chim, the executive director of the Singapore Council of Social

Services, accepted the gift from Mr Eric Cammell, the director of the Meat Exporters’ Council. The meat will be distributed to about a dozen charities — among them are several homes for the aged and children’s societies. The New Zealand presence at Food Asia is an indication of New Zealand’s keen interest in this area, -and a recognition of the potential of the market for the wide range of New Zealand meat in the general catering and institutional fields, said Mr Jones.