An ambitious plan by China to reboot the ancient Silk Road trading routes could deliver significant benefits to Silver Fern Farms, the company's chief executive says.
China earlier this month unveiled the latest details of its Belt and Road Initiative, launched in 2013, which will result in billions - and eventually trillions - of dollars being pumped into a new network of motorways, railways, ports and other infrastructure linking Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe.
The infrastructure, to be built along the land and sea routes of the old Silk Road, was designed to speed up the movement of goods, making trade more profitable and encouraging growth in China and elsewhere.
Silver Fern Farms chief executive Dean Hamilton welcomed the "positive" plan, which would help "grow trade with one of our key trade partners which has significant growth potential".
The Chinese market was already worth $350 million to SFF, but was still developing - a fact recognised by Shanghai Maling when it invested $260million in the company last year, he said.