Leading Chinese greenhouse grower invests in The Netherlands

Yesterday, the Chinese horticultural company Shouguang Vegetable Industry Holding Group broke ground in the Dutch municipality of Lansingerland. The Shouguang Vegetable Industry Holding Group has it's origins in the city of Shouguang in Shandong Province, the main production area for fruit and vegetables in China. In China, Shouguang Vegetable Group operates in the entire production of fruit and vegetables: from crop cultivation and development to sales and distribution. Now the company also has set up a Dutch subsidiary so they can further invest in their horticultural relationship with leading Dutch suppliers of knowledge and technique.

''The increasing cooperation in the field of horticulture between China and the Netherlands now eventually leads to concrete investments Netherlands "said Ewald van Vliet, Mayor Lansingerland.

Last year the Chinese company already purchased a 40,000m2 greenhouse in Berkel and Rodenrijs. The company focuses on building partnerships with Dutch companies and institutions in the horticultural sector. Thus a joint venture was established with seed breeder Axia Seeds. Together with Wageningen University, the Shouguang Vegetable Group is also working in the field of training with GreenQ from Bleiswijk. The knowledge focuses among other things on farming techniques, seed breeding and food safety.

Shouguang Vegetable Group has long-term ambitions for their activities in the Western region of Holland and the Dutch horticultural sector. The company plans to increase investments and expand the workforce further in the Netherlands.

"This is a concrete step for the cooperation between the Netherlands and China in the field of horticultural development as well as a strengthening of political ties between the two countries," said Zhang Jinxiong, Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in the Netherlands.

Vlnr: Counseler Zhang the Chinese Embassy, representative Govert Veldhuijzen, Mayor Ewald van Vliet, and Mr.. GAO Shouping of the Shouguang Vegetable Industry Holding Group.