Strategic alliances essential for new agricultural exports

17/9/01
New international and national strategic alliances are expected to be the result of the State Government's Budget commitment to agricultural trade and the development of new industries Agriculture Minister Kim Chance said today.
A total of $3 million has been allocated to trade and market development as part of the Department of Agriculture's total funding package of $136 million, in addition to $400,000 worth of industry contributions.
Mr Chance said the State Government was committed to reinforcing existing alliances, while establishing and building successful long term trade relationships that would benefit the State's agriculture industry.
"The State Government recognises the importance of finding new market opportunities for Western Australia's agriculture sector, which exports more than 60 per cent of its agricultural products," he said.
"As a result, the Government has made a new commitment of $370,000 to establish an innovation desk to provide advice, assistance and technical support for new industry opportunities.
"The innovation desk will assist agricultural producers to identify alternative new crops and products, innovative practices and technologies and to assist farmers to access Federal and other funding grants to develop these new innovative crops and products."
The Government has recognised the resurgence in overseas demand for beef and directed $20,000 towards the development of a beef alliance to supply South Korean retailers with WA beef.
It has also injected $50,000 into the continued development of new meat markets in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Palestine, the Ukraine and Morocco.
Another funding commitment of $15,000 has also been targeted to trial WA agricultural products through the Commonwealth Government's Supermarket to Asia sponsored Australian products section in a NTUC supermarket in Singapore this year.
"This initiative will showcase quality WA value added food and beverage products to the Singaporean market, which could open up new export opportunities in South East Asia," Mr Chance said.
"This will complement the State's participation in regional branding opportunities with South East Asian retailers."
The Minister said the Department of Agriculture was also working with the Margaret River Regional Producers Association to establish a permanent display of produce from the region in two major gourmet stores in Singapore.
"This initiative is an example of an activity that can help to develop long term strategic alliances between international retailers and WA producers," he said.
A further $15,000 has also been targeted to develop a potential export lettuce alliance to capture markets in South East Asia.
Other State budget initiatives include:

• $30,000 to develop new markets for WA dairy products in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore;

• $17,500 to undertake controlled atmosphere trials to improve post harvest handling, storage and transportation so that WA industry has the ability to present produce to export markets in the best possible condition;

• $30,000 to pursue opportunities to expand exports of WA pork to South East Asia and to attract investment into the WA pig industry;

• $35,000 to attract investment into wool topmaking in WA; and

• $95,000 to improve the skills and ability of new rural company directors through a professional development course.

"There is great opportunity for WA producers in a diverse range of export markets," Mr Chance said.
"In the last financial year, new and existing export markets generated an extra $17 million in export revenue for the State.
"A great opportunity exists to build on these achievements and generate further sustained profits for WA's food and fibre industries."
Media contact: Mike Marren 9213 6700