Two Major New Zealand Firms Plan Thailand Investment

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced on August 20 that two major New Zealand businesses have committed to investing in Thailand. Following separate one-on-one meetings in Auckland with T&G Global, a leading horticultural and fresh fruit company, and Jeff McDonald, Chief Executive of Skyline Enterprises, the Prime Minister confirmed both firms have secured local partners and are ready to launch operations.

T&G Global's fruit export business will focus on apples, with current sales in Thailand reaching approximately 3 billion baht annually and global sales around 100 billion baht per year. While the company does not grow apples in New Zealand, it possesses genetic technology and sources produce globally. Thailand's strategic location makes it ideal as a distribution hub for Southeast Asia, India, and the Middle East. In the first phase, the company will use Thailand as a major distribution base. Phase two includes plans to explore whether Thai farmers can grow apples using the company's genetic technology, potentially boosting local agricultural output.

"The company is confident and has decided to make Thailand its distribution base. They arrived today and immediately requested a meeting, and tomorrow they will meet with potential local partners interested in collaborating or using Thailand as an additional production base," the Prime Minister said.

Regarding Skyline Enterprises, the Prime Minister indicated the company has presented architectural plans and is currently negotiating with Thai partners whose names cannot yet be disclosed. Since the business requires substantial land, the company is weighing whether to partner at an existing facility or secure a new location. The company has confirmed its decision to invest in Thailand.