Federal funds support export growth

LOOKING ABROAD: Key industry groups working in the wine, livestock and dairy sectors have received funding to support the exploration of new export opportunities, Member for Barker Tony Pasin has announced.

KEY industry groups responsible for supporting several Limestone Coast ag-industries have received federal funding to explore new export market opportunities for the region’s producers.

Meat and Livestock Australia ($1.52m), Australian Grape and Wine Incorporated ($1m) and Dairy Australia ($300,000) have received the funding to build on and diversify overseas markets and help promote the region’s top quality produce.

Announcing the funding, Member for Barker Tony Pasin said Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) would explore market diversification opportunities within untapped segments of three export markets – Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Vietnam.

New business development specialists will work on improving trade flows for Australian beef, sheep meat and goatmeat to build new business opportunities in trade, retail and foodservice sectors.

“This funding is about building stronger relationships with important trading partners and smoothing the path for the redmeat industry. We want to the industry expand exports and improve product spread to future proof against significant market shocks,” Mr Pasin said.

“Barker produces some of the highest quality produce and these grants awarded to their respective national industry bodies will mean greater opportunities for our local producers and everyone involved in these industries right across the supply chain.”

The Australian Grape and Wine Inc will explore new markets, including marketing and promotional pilots in emerging markets like Japan and South Korea.

“These pilots will look to get consumers on board in countries where there is great potential for growth such as Japan and South Korea where there is an enormous amount of untapped potential,” Mr Pasin said.

“This is great news for our local winemakers, exporters and grape growers here in Barker where we produce more wine by value and volume than any other electorate in Australia.”

Dairy Australia has been awarded a $310,000 grant to help reduce technical barriers to trade in South East Asian markets.

“This grant is intended to identify and reduce the impact of technical barriers to trade such as product testing, shelf life and food labelling; requirements add costs to exporters and often impede their ability to get Australian products to international markets,” he said.

Mr Pasin said Dairy Australia would focus on identifying obstacles to trade in key markets of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines.