Export award for work in China
Manager of the Economic Development Unit Clyde Humphries congratulated the Grampians Pyrenees Wine Co-operative for their efforts as first time exporters from the region.
Mr Humphries said it was an honour and a privilege to receive the award which is sponsored by the Federal Government and the Australian Industry Group.
"Ararat Rural City Council's Economic Development Unit has worked tirelessly to build a relationship and reputation within the Chinese market through delegation visits and the long standing Ararat and Taishan Sister City arrangement, and it is great to literally see the fruits of our labour being harvested," he said
"This is the first time the regional Ballarat Export Network has acknowledged a council's role in export over the many years the awards event has been running, and this is testament to the hard work that many council officers have put into building this export agreement."
Ballarat Export Network chair Mark Sutherland praised the council's officers for the efforts in creating an export market for the Ararat wine region and the formation of the Grampians Pyrenees Wine Co-operative as the vehicle to export wine in to China.
"In my extensive experience in exporting to China, I am very impressed with the level of co-operation by the various Chinese Government levels and the obvious excellent groundwork that had been achieved by the Council to prepare the way for this new export initiative," he said.