Trade mission - South Korea/Japan, Redman
Author: Terry Redman
Published on: 10-October-2011
Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman will depart this weekend (October 9) on a trade mission to Japan and South Korea, two vital export markets for Western Australian produce.
The six-day visit aims to further strengthen links with the trade partners and promote the State as an important agriculture and food supplier to the region. The delegation will also showcase WA’s exciting new developments in grains research and innovation.
Mr Redman said both markets were important to the State’s agricultural industry, collectively worth more than $1.1billion. Major export commodities included wheat, barley, hay, malt, lupins and beef.
“Both countries are big importers of WA grain and I am keen to showcase the latest developments in the Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre, which will be based in Perth,” he said.
“I expect this to be an innovation hub for grains, not only nationally but internationally. It will allow scientists from around the world to bring their expertise to the table in the development of new grains varieties, technologies and processes.”
In South Korea, the delegation will meet with the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Korea Flour Mills Industrial Association. The visit will also examine trade development opportunities for lamb, beef and live cattle into Korea.
In Japan, the Minister will meet with senior government and business leaders to discuss and promote agribusiness trade opportunities.
Mr Redman said the Japanese government and importers had worked closely with the WA grains industry through a particularly tough season last year. This resulted in specific noodle wheat export specifications which helped both Australian exporters and Japanese processors manage a potential significant supply shortage of noodle wheat.
