Intervet India Commended For Its Commitment

21 June 2004

Boxmeer, the Netherlands, June 18, 2004 – Last week, Intervet India received the Holland Award for its "outstanding achievements in the field of International Agri-business in India and the Animal Health Sector". Managing director Victor van Solinge was presented with the award by Dutch embassy official Arnold Parzer during the festive opening of Intervet’s new corporate office in Pune.

Parzer - the Dutch counselor for Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality in India - commended the important and active role Intervet plays in India by providing good quality medicines, technology and services to the Indian veterinarian market. He also praised Intervet's focus on the complete food chain in India. 

Van Solinge reaffirmed Intervet's commitment to quality solutions for the Indian agricultural sector. He also spoke about India’s export potential and Intervet's long term support to improvement programs to bring India up to the new WTO standards. 

To mark the opening of the new Pune office, a seminar on food safety and clean milk production - a key issue facing the Indian dairy industry - was organized by Intervet. Key representatives from the dairy industry and farming community contributed to the seminar. 

Flavio Zanellato - Board Member of Intervet International - closed the seminar by reiterating Intervet's long term commitment to India, which, he said, was demonstrated by the ongoing investment programs in production, R&D and technical support in India. 

The Holland Award is presented by the Dutch Embassy on an occasional basis to companies making an outstanding contribution towards development in Agriculture and Animal Health. 

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Note for the editor: Intervet, a business unit of Akzo Nobel, headquartered in Boxmeer, the Netherlands, with sales of EUR 1,010 million in 2003, is dedicated to research and development, production and marketing of innovative animal health products and feed additives. Intervet's product range for use in livestock, companion animals, poultry and fish includes vaccines, antiparasitics, anti-infectives, endocrine products and other pharmaceutical specialties, diagnostics and feed additives. Intervet operates globally with its own marketing organizations. The company currently employs around 5,000 people. Intervet is a member of The Akzo Nobel group Intervet International bv Wim de Körverstraat 35 P.O. Box 31 5830 AA Boxmeer The Netherlands

www.intervet.com 

Akzo Nobel, based in the Netherlands, serves customers throughout the world with healthcare products, coatings and chemicals. Consolidated sales for 2003 totaled EUR 13 billion. The Company currently employs approximately 64,300 people in more than 80 countries. The financial results for the second quarter will be published on July 19, 2004. 

www.akzonobel.com

For further information please contact: 
Sabine Schueller 
Communications & Public Affairs 
Intervet International bv 
Tel: +31 (0)485 587085 
Fax: +31 (0)485 585392 
communications@intervet.com