New strategy to grow Vic’s food, wine exports to China
INCREASING exports of Victoria’s food and wine produce was a key priority for Premier Ted Baillieu’s as he joined some of Victoria’s top food and wine producers to showcase the best of Victoria’s produce to an audience of Chinese traders, importers and local media in Beijing on Monday night.
Mr Baillieu said the Victorian Government was supporting Victoria’s growers and producers to establish new customer relationships and strengthen existing friendships.
“Victoria produces some of the best food and wine in the world and Victoria’s diverse, abundant and top quality produce can meet the appetite of China’s growing market,” Mr Baillieu said.
Mr Baillieu announced that Victoria will also be launching a new Wine Export Strategy that will enhance Victoria’s competitive advantage as a producer of high quality premium wines.
“As part of that strategy and to promote Victorian wines in China, Victoria is supporting the production and screening of four dedicated 30 minute television episodes of The Wine Tour on China’s main TV channels,” Mr Baillieu said.
The series will highlight Victorian wines and some of Victoria’s top winemakers including De Bortoli, Brown Brothers, Rathbone Wine Group, Scotchmans Hill, Dominique Portet, Pfeiffer Wines, Hanging Rock Winery and Paringa Estate.
In addition, premium Victorian food providers including Goulburn Valley Beef, Yarra Valley Dairy, Cobram Estate (olive oil) and Jade Tiger Abalone will also feature in the series.
“The series will be seen by an estimated audience of 410 million people,” Mr Baillieu said.
Victorian-based Murray Goulburn Co-operative is Australia’s largest Australian-owned international dairy trader.
“Victoria is the headquarters of the Australian dairy industry, with concentration of production and processing located in Victoria,” Mr Baillieu said.
“Murray Goulburn announced in August that it is building a new packing plant in Qingdao, China as demand for the company’s specialty nutritional products adds value to milk and increases returns to Victorian farmers,” Mr Baillieu said.
“The Victorian Government has worked closely with Murray Goulburn to promote specialty dairy products in China through the Dairy Nutriceuticals to Asia Project.
“Since the commencement of MG China business in 2007 the company has outgrown its existing facility and will now double its China-based capacity to meet strong local demand.
“The company will grow its packaging lines from one to six at the Qingdao plant, to capture new opportunities generated by the demand for infant formula and adult nutritional products,” Mr Baillieu said.
In August the Victorian Government announced that it would also be launching stage two of the Dairy Nutriceuticals to Asia Project in the next 12 months, which would further grow the value and volume of exports to Asia.
“To strengthen Victoria’s trade and investment efforts further we are opening an office in Beijing and will strengthen our other offices in Shanghai and Jiangsu,” Mr Baillieu said.
A key resource will be the appointment to the Beijing office of a specialist to drive commercial engagement.
Last week in Shanghai Mr Baillieu announced that next year Victoria will strengthen its trade and investment relationship with China significantly with a Super Trade Mission involving up to 100 Victorian companies and organisations.
“This will be Victoria’s largest-ever trade mission to China, run over 10 days, and will leverage SIAL Shanghai, China’s largest food, beverage and industry exhibition, as well as activities in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou,” Mr Baillieu said.
China is the world’s fastest growing wine market. Victorian wine exports to Hong Kong and China totalled $42 million in 2009-10, representing 15 per cent of total Victorian wine exports.
Over the past five years, China’s demand for alcoholic beverages has expanded by 17 per cent per annum, reaching a market value in 2009 of $AUD112.3 billion.
“The Victorian Government has worked closely with Murray Goulburn to promote specialty dairy products in China through the Dairy Nutriceuticals to Asia Project.
“Since the commencement of MG China business in 2007 the company has outgrown its existing facility and will now double its China-based capacity to meet strong local demand.
“The company will grow its packaging lines from one to six at the Qingdao plant, to capture new opportunities generated by the demand for infant formula and adult nutritional products,” Mr Baillieu said.
In August the Victorian Government announced that it would also be launching stage two of the Dairy Nutriceuticals to Asia Project in the next 12 months, which would further grow the value and volume of exports to Asia.
“To strengthen Victoria’s trade and investment efforts further we are opening an office in Beijing and will strengthen our other offices in Shanghai and Jiangsu,” Mr Baillieu said.
A key resource will be the appointment to the Beijing office of a specialist to drive commercial engagement.
Last week in Shanghai Mr Baillieu announced that next year Victoria will strengthen its trade and investment relationship with China significantly with a Super Trade Mission involving up to 100 Victorian companies and organisations.
“This will be Victoria’s largest-ever trade mission to China, run over 10 days, and will leverage SIAL Shanghai, China’s largest food, beverage and industry exhibition, as well as activities in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou,” Mr Baillieu said.
China is the world’s fastest growing wine market. Victorian wine exports to Hong Kong and China totalled $42 million in 2009-10, representing 15 per cent of total Victorian wine exports.
Over the past five years, China’s demand for alcoholic beverages has expanded by 17 per cent per annum, reaching a market value in 2009 of $AUD112.3 billion.