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Australian produce exports take centre stage in Kuala Lumpur

01 Jun 2013

Australia’s produce exports will feature on restaurant menus in Kuala Lumpur throughout June when the Malaysian capital hosts the Flavours of Australia Festival.

About 20 restaurants in Kuala Lumpur are to participate in the festival, which highlights the high quality and safety standards of Australian produce and ingredients.  

Flavours of Australia, presented by the Australian Trade Commission and the Australian High Commission, dovetails with a rising trend in Malaysia towards restaurant dining and an increasing awareness of culinary standards.

The Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia, H.E. Miles Kupa, said Malaysians are already familiar with Australia’s wide variety of produce, especially its fruit, meat, dairy products and wine exports.

“During Flavours of Australia, we also want to emphasise its high standards of safety and quality,” he said.

“Thanks to the Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement (MAFTA), which came into force on 1 January this year, Malaysian importers can now source more Australian produce for the local consumer,” Mr Kupa said in a statement.

MAFTA virtually eliminates tariffs on processed foods, guarantees the best tariff treatment of wine, and offers a liberalised licensing arrangement for liquid milk.

The festival puts Australian produce at the centre of Australian-themed menus, from appetisers to main courses and desserts, complemented by well-known Australian wines.

Malaysian-born Adam Liaw, who won MasterChef Australia in 2010, is the event’s guest chef and will participate in a number of events.