Are you an agribusiness or food and beverage manufacturer investing in value-adding, or planning for your next investment?

You could be eligible for a share of $7 million in funding from the WA State Government as part of the Value-Add Investment Grants Round Two. Individual grants of $30,000 to $750,000 are available.

Rocky Ridge Brewing is the perfect example of a major expansion project supported by the WA Government’s Value-Add Investment Grants program, which has led them to experience a significant increase in production, economic growth and further access to international markets.

The Value Add Investment Grants program is divided into two streams:

• Capital Investment stream, which targets businesses looking to expand, diversify or relocate their value adding and processing operations in WA.
• Feasibility stream, which provides financial support to assist businesses with planning, feasibility and other de-risking activities to support future capital investment decisions. 

To find out more about the program and how to apply, register for information webinars on Wednesday 11 May 2022 or Wednesday 18 May 2022. Alternatively, visit www.agric.wa.gov.au/VAIG.

For more information about future grants please contact an Agribusiness Food and Trade team member by phoning 08 9368 3853 or emailing aftprograms@dpird.wa.gov.au. | Related: Value Add Investment Grants are building food security for WA | Source and Photo:  DPIRD / WA Minister for Agriculture and Food [Hamish Coates, Managing Director at Rocky Ridge Brewing Co.]

Australian agribusiness producers and exporters are reminded that the following free briefings from the International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM) team are taking place this week:

IFAM Horticulture Briefing
4 May 2022, 9-9.45am AWST

IFAM Dairy Briefing
4 May 2022, 10-10.30am AWST

IFAM Meat Briefing
4 May 2022, 12-1pm AWST

IFAM Seafood Briefing
5 May 2022, 1-1.45pm AWST

Participants will have the opportunity to hear the latest airfreight and export news, including flight developments, insights into the supply chain environment and impacts on each sector.

Live question and answer discussions will be held at the end of each briefing. You can submit questions via the registration form for each event. Source and Photo: IFAM / Austrade

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry Western Australia is organising a virtual webinar on doing business in Greater Manchester in the United Kingdom (UK).

Greater Manchester offers an abundance of trade and investment opportunities. Home to more than 270,000 businesses located across five UK counties, Greater Manchester is a dynamic economic hub and has a thriving food and beverages sector. In this North-West region of the UK the food and beverage sector has a Gross Value Added of £9.5 billion (AUD$16.9 billion) and employs over four hundred and forty thousand people.

Register now for this virtual event which takes place on 5 May 2022 at 4pm AWST. Attendance is free for CCIWA members and $105.45 for non-members.  Source and Graphic:  CCIWA

Join Food Innovation Australia Limited (FIAL) for an online virtual information session on food and beverage export opportunities in China for Australian food and beverage suppliers.

Hear from China Austrade representatives, in-market distributors, supply chain, intellectual property, trend and consumer experts. You will receive the latest updates on the business landscape and how China is dealing with current restrictions as a result of COVID-19, along with how Australian food and beverage businesses can navigate the landscape to capitalise on opportunities created by the Australia-China Free Trade Agreement.

Register now for this free event which takes place on Tuesday 10 May 2022 at 10am AWST.  Registrations close Monday 9 May 2022 at 3pm AWST.  Source and Graphic: FIAL

Australia and India signed an Australia–India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement on 2 April 2022.

Austrade and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are hosting India Market Updates across Australia from late April to the end of June.  

The Perth update will be a breakfast briefing at the Duxton Hotel on Wednesday 11 May 2022 from 7.30am until 9am AWST. More... Source:  Austrade | Image: DFAT

All Australian businesses are being advised to reserve their .au equivalent domain name before 20 September 2022.

It is important for WA businesses to change their domain name to be simplified, as well as to prevent fraudulent cyber activities by cybercriminals.

The Australian Cyber Security Centre recommends that businesses with existing domain names register their .au equivalents before they become available to the general public after 20 September 2022. More... Source ACSC | Photo: Luke Southern / Unsplash