Western Australian fresh produce has been featured in high-end Indonesian supermarkets, thanks to a new trade agreement and an innovative virtual marketing initiative.

Locally grown Bravo apples, table grapes and onions have been showcased in a 'Fresh Flavours of Western Australia' promotion running in more than 10 retail outlets across Greater Jakarta and online stores, accompanied by a social media campaign.

This comes as we celebrate the one year anniversary of the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA), which has helped improve market access to WA's fifth largest export customer for agrifood and beverages.

The trade relationship was forged by a Virtual Business Matching Program, developed by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (JTSI), supported by the WA Government office in Jakarta.

The program overcame international travel restrictions by using digital communication platforms to engage with buyers, including live virtual tours of growing, packing and processing facilities, enabling participants to view local operations and ask questions in real time.

This is the first time Bravo apples and table grapes have been exported to Indonesia, following successful shipments of carrots and potatoes under IA-CEPA, with participation in the program signalling interest in further trade opportunities.

For enquiries about doing business in Indonesia, please contact DPIRD at export@dpird.wa.gov.au​ or JTSI's Invest and Trade Western Australia team at investandtrade@jtsi.wa.gov.au.  Source:  WA Government  |  Photo:  JTSI [Promotion at All Fresh Gatot Subroto, Greater Jakarta, on 11 June 2021 – sales promotion staff explaining benefits of Bravo apples.)

An International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM) webinar for the seafood industry will be held this coming Monday 26 July 2021 from 1.30 to 2:30 pm (AWST).

Australian Government Freight Controller Air Vice-Marshal Margaret Staib will be joined by International Freight Coordinator General Michael Byrne to deliver an IFAM update on supply chain issues, pricing, flight developments and routes.

This briefing will include a discussion and opportunity to ask questions on adapting your supply chains and how businesses should be preparing under the changing freight environment. 

This briefing focuses on the seafood industry (only) and is open to exporters, producers and other stakeholders using IFAM, or interested in accessing it or understanding more.  Registration is essential.

The latest IFAM outbound and inbound flights are available on the IFAM website. Exporters should speak to their freight forwarder and visit the IFAM website for further assistance.  For more information, please email Austrade State Director WA, Jane Caforio, at jane.caforio@austrade.gov.au, or DPIRD's International Airfreight Coordinator, Terry Burnage, at terry.burnage@dpird.wa.gov.au.  Source:  IFAM / DPIRD  |  Photo:  Azlan Baharudin / Unsplash

Grains Australia has been awarded a $969,480 grant to develop new export markets for Australian grains, oilseeds and pulses.

Awarded under the Australian Government’s Agri-Business Expansion Initiative, the grant would assist to develop new overseas markets and accelerate trade diversification.  Federal Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia David Littleproud said Australian grain is highly regarded in Indonesia, Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam and the subcontinent.

However, there is increasing competition from other suppliers and emerging production, particularly from the Black Sea region and Argentina, the Minister said.  Through this grant, the Australian grains industry will explore new markets and seek to grow market share in traditional ones, and provide virtual workshops to raise awareness of the unique qualities of Australian feed grains for livestock feed rations.  More...  Source:  Federal Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia  |  Photo:  DPIRD

World-renowned chefs Curtis Stone and Rick Stein will return to WA for the 2021 Western Australia Gourmet Escape, along with a host of other high-profile culinary masters including Maggie Beer, Colin Fassnidge, Stephanie Alexander and Guy Grossi.

This year's Gourmet Escape will run over five days, from 17 to 21 November 2021, and feature more than 30 events across multiple venues in Perth, the Swan Valley, Margaret River and newly added location, Rottnest Island.

The program includes Grazie Mille – an Italian feast at Sandalford Wines in the Swan Valley, with Maggie Beer, Stephanie Alexander and Guy Grossi collaborating on a family-style multi-course dinner featuring local Swan Valley produce.

New Perth-based events include Wine, Dine and Disco at the Art Gallery of WA with Curly Haslam-Coates, dameeeela, Emma Farrelly and Rottnest Sunset with Rick Stein and Colin Fassnidge.

WA Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan said this year's event will again shine a spotlight on the diversity and quality of fresh food our State produces, while attracting visitors to the region to support local businesses and jobs.  More...  Source:  WA Government  |  Photo:  WA Gourmet Escape

Australian Grape and Wine has received a $998,000 grant from the Australian Government to explore potentially lucrative new international marketing options for locally produced premium drops.

Awarded under the Australian Government’s Agri-Business Expansion Initiative, the grant would explore opportunities for the industry to diversify its overseas markets. Federal Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia, David Littleproud, said the grant will help deliver two marketing and promotion pilots for Australian wine, looking to get consumers on board in countries where there is great potential for growth – in this case, Japan and South Korea.

There is an enormous amount of untapped potential in these markets, and the more inroads we can make into new markets the better off our winemakers, exporters and grape growers will be, the Minister said.  More... Source  Source:  Federal Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia  |  Photo:  Wine Australia

A video recording of a recent Austrade webinar for Australian rock lobster exporters is now available.

The presentation and slides from the event – held on 7 July 2021 – include relevant information and a sector update for those either currently exporting, or seeking to export, rock lobster to Japan and Hong Kong.

Presentations from other past Austrade events are also available online.  Further market briefings will be run in coming months and details for these can be found on the Austrade website.   Source:  Austrade  |  Photo: DPIRD

An $888,000 grant from the Australian Government has been awarded to Seafood Industry Australia (SIA) to develop and expand markets for Australian seafood exports.

The grant – awarded under the Australian Government’s Agri-Business Expansion Initiative – is to help develop and deliver the industry’s Export Market Strategic Plan, focusing on expanding into new markets, and markets with high growth potential.  A key part of the plan is investigating and analysing new potential markets, such as North Asia, South Asia, the Pacific, Europe and the Americas with rock lobster and abalone a key focus.

SIA will engage two trade export managers to build capacity for seafood exporters across Australia and SIA Chief Executive Officer Veronica Papacosta said a one-stop-shop for seafood exporters would be created.

“There is a plethora of information, resources and databases out there for seafood exporters, however it can be difficult for producers to keep track of them all and know how to find them,” Ms Papacosta said.  “We are planning to create a digital platform that will curate all the resources in one place. This will allow our producers to focus their time on delivering the world’s greatest seafood to all corners of the globe.  More...  Source and Photo:  SIA