Over 140 Australian exhibitors are set to attend Asia’s biggest food industry event, Food and Hotel Asia 2010, this month. The Austrade-organised National Pavilion will showcase the finest Australian flavours and produce for top Asian buyers and importers, as part of Austrade’s strategy to boost food and beverage exports to South East Asia. The lineup will include wine exporter Inland Trading, gluten-free Rowie’s Cakes, organic meat supplier Australian Organic Meat, Queensland’s... ...Read more »

Australian speciality food and beverage product makers are looking to make their mark in America during the next two weeks, as more than 25 companies showcase over 70 products across Manhattan, during G’Day USA: Australia Week. “This annual boutique supermarket promotion builds on the success of the past seven years and demonstrates the ongoing demand for quality Australian specialty and gourmet food and wines,” Austrade’s Regional Director for the Americas, Grame Barty, advised. “Key... ...Read more »

G’Day USA: Australia Week 2010 has begun with events for a wide range of sectors being held in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and San Diego. Now in its seventh year, the celebration of all things Australian remains the largest foreign country promotion held annually in the United States. Austrade’s Regional Director for the Americas, Grame Barty, said the 2010 program “will again demonstrate Australia as an innovative, sophisticated economy with leading edge research technology,... ...Read more »

The free trade agreement with ASEAN countries, which came into effect this week, offers little benefit to Australian producers while removing all tariffs on food imported into Australia, according to the leader of The Nationals and Shadow Trade Minister, Warren Truss.”This free trade agreement is an alarming example of what Labor is prepared to concede to get a seat at a treaty signing ceremony,” Mr Truss contended. “AANZFTA may well be the first trade agreement Australia has signed... ...Read more »

Federal Trade Minister Simon Crean yesterday welcomed the commencement of Australia’s largest free trade agreement – the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), with food exporters likely to be among the lead beneficiaries. The historic agreement will span 12 economies with over 600 million people and a combined GDP of $3.1 trillion. “The commencement of this agreement is a major milestone and opens up significant opportunities for Australian businesses in one... ...Read more »

Federal Trade Minister Simon Crean has welcomed a breakthrough deal on banana imports into the European Union ending a dispute that has been running for 16 years.Mr Crean also welcomed a related agreement to provide deeper tariff cuts on the importation of tropical products into Europe, and other markets, which will benefit Australian exporters once the Doha Round is concluded. The minister said the deals on bananas and tropical products would generate much needed momentum towards concluding the... ...Read more »

Whilst protecting our environment has been the focus for leaders this month, when families around the world sit down for their festive feast this year many will have Australian exporters to thank for foods with a sustainable flavour, according to Austrade Chief Economist Tim Harcourt. Mr Harcourt noted that sales in many Christmas-related food categories had soared this year, while sustainable products were performing well. “Several food and beverage export categories have being growing strongly... ...Read more »

Capilano Honey has claimed one of the major awards at the recent Australian Export Awards. Held at Parliament House last Friday night, the long running awards recognised the leading Australian export performers of the past year. “The Awards are national and cover all sectors of the economy. Tonight’s finalists from eight State and Territory Awards in 12 categories of exporters demonstrate unwavering commitment, dedication and willingness to innovate in order to achieve exporting success,”... ...Read more »

The Victorian Government has earmarked Singapore and Malaysia as key centres for Australian export opportunities in the coming decade. Tim Dillon, the Victorian Government’s Trade Commissioner for South East Asia, said that new trade opportunities will begin to emerge in these regions as both Singapore and Malaysia invest heavily in industry development initiatives and local business. The recent signing of the ASEAN free trade agreement with Australia will also open up new opportunities between... ...Read more »

A leading international expert on the global food industry has told a conference in Brisbane this week that the future for Australian food exports is strong as long as we can build on our ‘beer and vegemite’ image. Speaking at the National Farmers’ Federation congress, Professor David Hughes said Australia’s position as a low-cost producer had evaporated but the high quality of our food presented an alternative marketing proposition. “What you need is customers with... ...Read more »