Export doors open

GIPPSLAND food exporters need Halal information and training to capitalise on south-east Asian markets, according to a report from the latest Victorian Super Trade Mission.
Agribusiness Gippsland director Alex Arbuthnot AM, newly returned from the ASEAN mission, also suggested there is an opportunity for the UHT milk market, including small packs for the hotel/resort market.
“This would help grow the coffee drinking market and would be a real boost to milk sales,” he said.
He suggested members of the Victorian Agribusiness Council should focus on introducing small to medium-sized food firms to potential export clients.
Agribusiness Gippsland has already been active in export development with Mr Arbuthnot and chair Paul Ford both having joined recent Ministerial trade missions to south-east Asia and China.
“As a result of those visits we staged well-attended forums on halal food exports at Lardner Park and exporting to China, held at Morwell,” Mr Ford said.
“We also hosted a group of top chefs from Kuala Lumpur visiting west Gippsland for two days.
“This has highlighted to us the opportunity to establish a formal mentoring service for future food export leaders.
“It is a major project we are seeking to get established.”
During his latest visit, Mr Arbuthnot a director of Landcare Australia, met the Secretary General Malaysian Ministry of Natural Resources to discuss Landcare.
“With the focus by the Federal Government on improved bilateral arrangements with Asia, knowledge exchange – including Landcare – should be on the agenda,” Mr Arbuthnot said.
He also had a chance to catch up with some of the Malaysian chefs Agribusiness Gippsland hosted in Gippsland last March.
“Chef Richmond Lim sends his regards,” he said.
“I had lunch with him and toured his magnificent kitchens at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.”
The June tour, led by Minister for Trade and Innovation Louise Asher, and Minister for Agriculture and Food Security Peter Walsh involved 200 delegates and 130 companies.

Other side: Agribusiness Gippsland director Alex Arbuthnot visited supermarkets in Kuala Lumpur during a recent trade mission to the area.

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Posted by Sarah Vella on Jul 23 2014. Filed under Rural News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry