Launch of Focus Taiwan a success for agriculture & fishery industries

11/11/98

The launch of Focus Taiwan last week in Taipei was a success for Western Australia's agriculture and fishery industries, Primary Industry Minister Monty House said today.

Focus Taiwan is an initiative of the Minister to strengthen relationships between Western Australia and Taiwan. It demonstrates the commitment of the Coalition Government to identify and source overseas markets for WA's agricultural and fish products.

"Taiwan has a strong economy with a market of 22,000,000 consumers and a high dependence on importable fresh produce," Mr House said.

"With an already strong export market for our seafood, Focus Taiwan represents an ideal opportunity to reinforce trading opportunities between WA and Taiwan, particularly in agricultural products."

Mr House launched the Focus Taiwan campaign at an industry dinner of 300 Taiwanese agribusiness, industry and Government representatives last week.

The Minister promoted investment opportunities in WA to encourage the joint development of facilities and manufacturing processes needed to progress the primary industry and fisheries sectors further.

He was accompanied by 42 WA companies which displayed the State's produce at a pre-launch exhibition.

A showcase of WA produce took centre stage and included yabbies, pilchards, beef, premium wines, pork, lobsters, grains, dairy and local wildflowers.

The Taiwanese trade buyers expressed a desire to further develop trade with WA to take advantage of the diverse range of high quality products.

"An important part of the trade mission included field visits and meetings with industry and Government departments," Mr House said.

"Visits to large supermarket chains gave the WA delegates a valuable insight into product packaging, pricing structures and consumer tastes in Taiwan."

Mr House said that Focus Taiwan would help to develop export markets to Taiwan to its full potential.

Within the next 12 months the Focus Taiwan project would continue to build on existing business networks with Taiwan.

In addition the project would co-ordinate visits to WA by Taiwanese Government and agribusiness representatives to identify and encourage opportunities for collaborative research, technical exchange and technology transfer.

Mr House said that he looked forward to the establishment of trading contracts with Taiwanese buyers in the following months.

Focus Taiwan is managed by Agriculture WA's AGWEST Trade and Development program.

Media contact: Julie Cole (08) 9481 2044