Western Australian primary industries representatives recently returned from a 10-day trade mission to India where they joined Deputy Premier Hon Roger Cook on WA’s largest ever investment and trade delegation to visit a foreign market.

Delegates from the rock lobster, citrus, grains and wine industries joined other sectors to explore mutually beneficial economic relationships between India and WA, particularly emerging opportunities for the WA agrifood sector, including those under the interim Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement.

Delegates participated in one-to-one business matching meetings, city briefings, industry roundtable discussions and WA showcase events in Delhi, Mumbai, Visakhapatnam and Chennai.

Highlights for WA agrifood and beverage delegates included onsite meetings with the food service sector at high end hotels and traditional and modern retail outlets, visits to the fishing boat harbour and port visits, meetings with potential importers and buyers, and the opportunity to explore synergies and areas of collaboration with WA’s sister state, Andhra Pradesh.

The mission culminated with an Invest and Trade WA event featuring a 200-kilogram shipment of WA rock lobster paired with wine from Margaret River, as well as a showcase of premium WA, honey, condiments, chocolate, nougat, beverages and lupins, at the Taj Connemara in the South Indian port city of Chennai.

This followed the announcement by the Deputy Premier of a new WA investment and trade office in Chennai, to support WA businesses pursuing opportunities within the region. Source:  DPIRD / WA Deputy Premier | Photo: DPIRD

On 21 July 2022, Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell announced the establishment of a new service to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) agri, food and beverage exporters navigate ‘new-look' supply chains and a changed international trade environment.

“One of the biggest ongoing challenges for our SME agri exporters is getting their produce to international customers,” Mr Farrell said.

“This new supply chain service kicking into gear from 1 August 2022 will give Australian agri exporters the insights they need to help navigate complex global supply chains.”

The Export Supply Chain Service (ESCS) will be delivered by Austrade, building on the wide range of services already provided to exporters.

ESCS will provide ongoing freight and logistics insights to stakeholders as the International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM) winds down. More... Source: Minister for Trade and Tourism | Photo: Fremantle Ports

In an increasingly dynamic market environment, the Western Australian Government has invested in a $20.4 million project to ensure long-term productivity, sustainability, profitability, and resilience of the State’s grain industry. 

The State Government has injected $12 million in the five-year WA Farming Systems project, and the Grains Research Development Corporation (GRDC) has committed $8.4 million to deliver the agronomic tools and business pathways for the industry to grow and thrive.

The project will explore a range of farming systems, including crop diversity, and integrating greenhouse gas mitigation strategies into farming businesses. Learning hubs will be established in the Merredin, Geraldton, and The Lakes districts to undertake rigorous scientific system trials.

The WA Government, in co-ownership with InterGrain and joint backing of the Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre, will work alongside the GRDC to boost the prospects of the WA grains industry.

This new project is a demonstration of the WA Government's support for the agricultural sector and the commitment to drive research towards keeping the State's primary industries internationally competitive. More... Source and Photo: DPIRD

Austrade in partnership with Wine Australia has developed a comprehensive digital knowledge hub to help Australian wine producers grow their wine sales internationally.

The Wine Export Ready Hub brings together information, templates, and guides to help wine producers understand the process of export.

Austrade Chief Executive Officer Xavier Simonet said: “Australia produces some of the world’s most sought-after wines, and the new Wine Export Ready Hub will help our producers ger more product to consumers the world over”.  

According to Wine Australia’s Export Report, although wine producers faced challenging conditions in recent years, the values of wine exports have grown in 71 destinations in 2022.

Australia is the fifth largest wine exporter, producing 4% of the world’s wine. Over 1000 exporters send more than 18,000 different wines to more than 100 destinations worldwide. More... Source: Austrade | Photo: Hermes Rivera / Unsplash