Dargaville (New Zealand): Dr. Meenesh Shah, Chairman of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and Indian Immunologicals Ltd (IIL), attended the 10th anniversary celebration of Pristine Biologicals (NZ) Ltd (PBNL) — a subsidiary of IIL — marking a decade of excellence in vaccine raw material manufacturing and India–New Zealand collaboration.
The event was graced by Mr. Andrew Hoggard, Hon’ble Minister for Biosecurity, Environment & Associate Minister for Agriculture, Government of New Zealand, as Chief Guest, alongside dignitaries including Hon. Jonathan Larsen, Mayor of Dargaville; Dr. K. Anand Kumar, MD, IIL; and officials from India’s Consulate, MPI New Zealand, and Silver Fern Farms.
Mr. Hoggard commended Pristine for emerging as a trusted producer of high-quality bovine serum and lauded its contribution to science-led, value-added agribusiness that drives regional growth. He emphasized the potential for deeper India–New Zealand collaboration in animal health, biosecurity, and sustainable agriculture, particularly with NDDB’s leadership.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Shah highlighted India’s rise as a global vaccine manufacturing hub and the role of Pristine in advancing Atmanirbhar Bharat. Recalling NDDB’s historic Operation Flood, he underscored initiatives for eco-friendly dairying — including ration balancing, methane reduction, and biogas generation — aimed at enhancing farmer livelihoods and sustainability.
Dr. K. Anand Kumar, MD, IIL & Director, Pristine, expressed pride in Pristine’s decade-long journey that enabled the production of millions of animal and human vaccine doses, saving lives worldwide.
