CHINA’s richest mainland person is looking at setting up a dairy-connected plant in Busselton.
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Mr Zong Quinghou, who has an estimated worth of around $11 billion and is reported to be the only mainland Chinese citizen to have amassed a fortune of more than $US10 billion, is chairman of the group looking to establish a powdered milk plant in WA to supply China.
Though his visit was low-key, the Mail understands that Mr Zong has been shown some potential local sites for a processing plant.
The project would involve thousands of cows and initially could have a big spinoff for local dairy producers.
It is understood that if the project goes ahead Mr Zong’s group would look at establishing their own dairy farm in the region.
Mr Zong has indicated previously that his group, Hangzhou Wahaha, wants to spend more than $200 million on milk production and processing in WA.
Mayor Ian Stubbs confirmed that Mr Zong had been in Busselton over the weekend.
“It is very early days. I met with Mr Zong over the weekend. He is looking at Busselton and a number of other locations. The discussions we had are confidential at this stage.”
A local dairy farmer said the group had shown interest for some time in establishing a plant in the South West but was unsure what benefits such a plant might bring to local farmers in the region.
It is understood that the Minister for Agriculture, Terry Redman, is keen to assist the group in facilitating a plant in WA and there have been meetings over a period of time, with local dairy farmers and the group discussing the proposal and looking at cows and land in the region.
