Info database for food producers wishing to export to SE Asia

12/6/95

Western Australian food producers and exporters wanting to develop markets in South East Asia now have a database of ideas as a result of a Department of Agriculture project.

Primary Industry Minister Monty House said in developing its Asian Food Database, the department's Agwest trade and development arm had adopted a strong market focus and started at the market place - the wet markets and supermarkets of Asia. 

By surveying fresh and processed Asian-style food products sold in Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Japan, a comprehensive inventory of more than 1,000 Asian-style food opportunities had been compiled.

It was one of the initiatives of a two-year project, commenced in 1993, and jointly funded by the Department of Agriculture and the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation.

The project complemented a joint Government and industry push to lift Australian processed food exports to $7 billion, double current levels, by the year 2000.

"The aim is to identify Asian-style food opportunities and encourage industry to explore and develop such opportunities," Mr House said.

"The department's database will benefit producers and manufacturers in Western Australia's growing food sector, particularly as they shape their products to enter new and potentially lucrative markets in Asia.

"The 'Asian Food Database' will enable them to find out what Asian-style foods customers want and what ingredients are required to supply the value-added chain.

"The department is using the database as a springboard to identify new opportunities with the potential to develop into new export or import replacement industries."

Mr House said the markets for beverages, snack foods, sea foods and dairy products were fast growing in Asia and some manufacturers and grower groups had already used the database to determine Asian food preferences and customer demands.

Although Asian consumers were responding to Western eating styles, such as fast-food and convenience foods, they still ate a lot of traditional food products. 

In Singapore, which was considered a very 'Westernised' Asian country, between 40 and 70 per cent of the lines stocked at major retail stores were Asian-style foods. 

"There is also an increasing demand for Asian-style foods in Australia, so it makes good sense for new players in the Asian food market game to be aware of the range of Asian-style food products available," Mr House said.

Even producers of Western-style snack foods will need to be aware of the competition by ethnic snacks.

The database is a 'one stop shop' for this type of information. 

Media contact: Will Henwood 481 2044 or 222 9595

Department of Agriculture: Geraldine Pasqual (09) 368 3454