Promoting Western Australia's Great Southern region's premium food, wine, and tourism industries while forging new international partnerships was the focus of a trade mission to Singapore last week.

Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan spent two days in Singapore to participate in 'Discover Great Southern – Western Australia's Hidden Gem', the inaugural international Great Southern food, wine, and tourism showcase, and meet with international agricultural industry leaders wanting to partner and invest in WA.

More than 50 winemakers, food producers, industry and government officials flew to Singapore for the event from 8 to 10 November, which comes off the back of the Great Southern Tourism and Trade Partnership launched earlier this year.

The Singapore series of events and activations are helping generate strong premium brand awareness and affinity for premium products of Great Southern provenance, and drive interest in WA and the Great Southern as a tourism destination for Singapore-based travellers.

This new initiative is building the profile and strengthening the value of the Great Southern region. It has been developed by the Great Southern Development Commission, the Austrade, and Australia's South West. It is supported by Wines of Western Australia, Great Southern Wine Producers Association, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, and Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation. More...​ Source: WA Minister for Agriculture and Food | Photo: Great Southern Development Commission

Expressions of Interest (EOI) are now open for round five of the WA Government's Access Asia Business Grants program. Grants of up to $27,500 are available from a grant pool of $415,000 for the 2022-23 financial year.

The competitive grants program supports local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and organisations to advance their export activities and build their competitiveness in new Asian markets such as China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and Vietnam.

Successful grant recipients can use the funding for activities such as:

• Developing new partnerships and export plans.
• Scoping new supply chains and e-commerce models.
• Gathering in-market intelligence.
• Developing new marketing collateral for Asian markets.

Proposed projects must be in at least one of the eight priority sectors outlined in the State's economic development framework – Diversify WA – which includes primary industries.  

The EOI for round five of the Access Asia Business Grants program closes on 22 November 2022. More... Source: WA Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade | Photo: iStock

The latest Export Supply Chain Snapshot from Austrade is now available, with a focus on sea freight.

In very good news for South and Western Australia, TS Line will commence a new weekly direct container vessel service from Adelaide (and Fremantle) into North Asia. The new service should improve transit times and reduce costly interstate movements into Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane for direct sailings.

More broadly, global delays are improving, and rates continue to trend down, with the 27 October 2022 Shanghai Container Freight Index rates decreasing 7% week on week and down 67% compared to the same time in 2021. More... Source: Austrade | Photo:  Fremantle Ports

Thailand’s fabulous flavours and Australia’s finest produce – it’s a combination that’s hard to beat and one that was on full display in Bangkok last week at the Taste the Wonders of Australia event.

MasterChef Thailand and Celebrity Chef Ksynn Detcharoen of Bangkok Private Chef Dining created a Thai fusion feast, blending the best attributes of the two cultures to highlight the culinary possibilities of Australian produce to some of the country’s most influential foodies.

The Taste the Wonders of Australia event included a cooking demonstration and trade displays showcasing the true flavours of Australia’s premium produce to 160 of Thailand’s culinary experts, chefs, foodies, importers, distributors and business leaders, along with representatives from the Australian and Thai governments. More... Source and Photo: Seafood Industry Australia

Rising incomes and a growing food manufacturing sector are expected to drive strong growth in consumption of agricultural products in Vietnam over the next decade.

Australia is especially well placed to meet growing Vietnamese demand for:

• meat
• wheat
• cotton
• dairy products
• premium seafood
• premium horticultural products.

Read about the opportunities for Australian agricultural exports in Vietnam here and for Australian citrus in Vietnam here. Source: Austrade | Photo: Tron Le / Unsplash [Saigon]

The Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) in Japan recommends Australian whisky and spirits producers keen to pursue the Japan or broader Asia markets to consider entering the 2023 Tokyo Whisky and Spirits Competition (TWSC).

TWSC is now in its fifth year and, as happened this year, the first round of judging will be conducted remotely between mid-January to mid-February 2023.  The second round is scheduled to take place at a Tokyo venue early in March 2023.

The entry fee is ¥27,500 (AUD$293) and entries must be received by Thursday, 15 December 2022. Results will be announced in May 2023, with the award ceremony taking place at the end of June or beginning of July 2023.

Japan's whisky and spirits market is highly competitive with many renowned brands both from Japan and other countries present. Although not guaranteed, success in this competition could lead to ongoing business in Japan and elevate the profile of your products in Japan and neighbouring markets.

For further information, please visit the competition website or contact Ms Yoko Yamamura of Austrade Tokyo at Yoko.Yamamura@austrade.gov.au. More... Source and Photo: Austrade / Tokyo Whisky and Spirits Competition

The Export Council of Australia, in partnership with Austrade, Export Finance Australia and NAB, is offering a comprehensive two-day training program next month to help make Indigenous-owned businesses export ready.

As part of the in-person training, you will gain practical knowledge about the fundamentals of selling your goods or services in overseas markets. Topics include international marketing, protecting your intellectual property, trade finance and logistics. You will also learn how to think innovatively with alternative business models and how to deliver an effective business pitch.

With industry experts as guest speakers, you will get up-to-date information on practices and services. The course will introduce you to a supportive ecosystem.

Please only register if you are an Indigenous business and available to attend a two-day in-person training event in Perth from 1 to 2 December 2022. Participation is free of cost. More... Source and Graphic: Export Council of Australia