Australia - Exploring trade with China 30 May 2010

THE Federal Government will provide support for six agricultural delegations to visit China to explore market opportunities for products including wild and farmed eels, mangoes, timber, livestock, grapes and Chinese red dates or jujube.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke today announced the six successful projects under the latest round of Australia’s agribusiness program with China, the Australia-China Agricultural Co-operation Agreement (ACACA) program.

Under the program, six industry delegations will each visit China for up to two weeks over the next 18 months to make new contacts and to develop export opportunities.

“China is a major trading partner of Australia and in 2008-09 we exported around $3.4 billion in agricultural goods with strong growth in canola, live animals, fish, edible products, wine and meat,” Mr Burke said.

“This year’s agricultural delegations will explore export opportunities for Australian livestock, eels, Chinese red dates, mangoes and grapes.

“This kind of on-the-ground collaboration gives the project teams invaluable insights that can really make the difference to how they approach the Chinese market.

Since the ACACA program was established in 1984, more than 200 delegations have been funded in sectors including beef, wool, dairy, horticulture, fisheries, forestry and food safety.

The next funding round in 2011-12 will be advertised in late 2010. For information on how to apply visit www.daff.gov.au/acaca .