Austrade media release
Tuesday, 8 April 2008
Australian food and beverages will get a huge promotional boost in South East Asia by representation at the region’s largest food and hospitality trade event–Food and Hotel Asia 2008 (FHA) – to be held in Singapore later this month (April 22-25).
Over 100 exhibitors–a record number–from around the country, including food and beverage producers and service providers, will showcase their wares at the Austrade-organised Australian National Pavilion to major international buyers.
The Australian contingent is the third-largest after Italy and the USA.
Austrade’s Regional Director for South East Asia, South Asia and the Pacific, David Twine said FHA is an important part of Austrade’s strategy to boost Australia’s food and beverage exports to key South East Asian markets.
“The South East Asian nations are some of Australia’s closest and most significant export markets. In 2005-06, Australian food and beverage exports to the 10 ASEAN member countries was worth over AUD$3.7 billion, over five times that of (exports to) China at AUD$687 million.
“The region’s affluent middle class with their increasingly cosmopolitan tastes is helping drive consumer spending, creating diverse and expanding opportunities for Australian businesses,” Mr Twine said.
Austrade’s Singapore-based Senior Trade Commissioner, Maurine Lam said, “FHA showcases the latest trends in the food and hospitality business to key international decision makers."
"It attracts exhibitors from around the world, even as far as Italy and France, all vying for a market share.
“The event offers Australian exhibitors a great opportunity to connect directly with top buyers and importers from South East Asia and beyond,” she said.
Canberra-based Inland Trading is taking the company’s full portfolio of 240 Australian wines to FHA this year.
Founder and Managing Director, Greg Corra, said FHA was strategically the most important event for their business.
“We open and pour every wine in our portfolio at FHA. This event got Inland Trading up and running, selling into Asia," Mr Corra said.
"Singapore was our first ever export market 14 years ago and we’re now selling to 32 countries worldwide.
In my view, FHA shows us where we go and how we grow.
“The great thing about this event is we’ve had amazing interest from a diverse audience and unexpected sources–lots of people from countries you don’t expect to be there like UAE, Mauritius, Seychelles and even Maldives.
"We also struck a major deal with Star Cruises to supply our fine wines as a result of the show.”
Mr Corra said every Asian market has been incredibly strong for Inland Trading, despite the high exchange rate.
“There is considerable interest (from suppliers) in high-quality wine. We found good importers in Myanmar and Cambodia at FHA a few years ago - both great markets for us.”
Ms Lam said local businesses like Inland Trading were well positioned to take advantage of the market opportunities in the region.
“Australia’s strong reputation as a quality supplier of food and beverages, our geographic proximity and the tariff gains afforded by free-trade agreements with Thailand and Singapore, have given Australian exporters a major competitive advantage,” she said.
To further enhance prospects for Australian exhibitors, Austrade will bring buyers from other high-growth Asian markets like China and India to FHA.
“This year, there will be a significant number of buyers from South Asia–specifically India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The Indian food service market alone is currently worth over AUD$8.7 billion (USD$8 billion) and growing at 7 per cent. With consumers looking for quality, variety, convenience and new taste experiences, there is an increasing interest in Australian grocery lines and gourmet foods,” Ms Lam said.
For the first time, Austrade will organise a Wine Australia Pavilion, featuring 32 wines at Wine & Spirits Asia 2008, which is part of the larger FHA event.
Austrade will also run a special Wine Australia Seminar by Singapore-based wine educator and writer Lim Hwee Peng.
Austrade has been actively involved in promoting Australian food and beverage exports in the region.
Last year, Austrade brought the largest contingent of buyers to Fine Food Australia in Sydney from South East Asia.
FHA 2008 is for trade only. In 2006, the show attracted nearly 37,000 visitors including 2,230 exhibitors from 70 countries and 50 buyer delegations from 33 countries.
Austrade’s Singapore-based Senior Trade Commissioner, Maurine Lam, and the managing director of Inland Trading, Greg Corra, are available for interviews.
ENDS
Media contact
Purnima Ganapathy
Tel: +61 2 9390 2310
Mob: +61 419 127 577
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