The Swiss group NESTLE (CHF 81.4 billion in 2000) and New Zealand group FONTERRA are to join forces to create dairy joint ventures on the American continent (North, Central and South). The partnership has still to be approved by the competition authorities of the countries concerned. Ranking ninth in the world's dairy industry, FONTERRA alone generates 7% of New Zealand's GNP and controls 1/3 of the international dairy trade.