Western Australian food and beverage companies have partnered with the state government to showcase their finest produce on a global stage at two major food trade events.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, in partnership with Invest and Trade WA, took charge at FOODEX Japan 2023.
FOODEX is one of Asia’s largest international food and beverage exhibitions, expected to attract 10,000 buyers from more than 30 countries and regions.
The trade mission will bring together 22 food and beverage producers from WA under one roof, with offerings ranging from premium seafood and succulent meats to honey, truffles and award-winning wines.
WA delegates have recently returned from Dubai-based Gulfood, the world’s largest food and beverage sourcing event, featuring more than 5000 exhibitors from over 125 countries.
Eighteen businesses exhibited a wide range of seafood, meat, dairy, honey, fresh produce and innovative packaged products at the WA Government organised stand.
Following Gulfood, several WA companies participated in a WA Government-led trade mission to Qatar, during which participants engaged in business-to-business meetings with Qatari food and beverage distributors, retailers and food service enterprises, gaining valuable insights on market opportunities.
“Western Australia is a highly regarded exporter of high quality agricultural produce, characterised by our pristine natural environment, innovative producers and sustainable farming practices,” said agriculture and food minister Jackie Jarvis.
“It is important that we continue to stake our claim in the global market through ongoing trade activities, including a strong presence at major food and beverage events such as FOODEX and Gulfood.
“Japan is WA’s second largest agrifood export destination, with exports averaging $924 million annually in recent years. Japan is a major buyer of premium grade Australian noodle wheat and milling wheat, a consistent market for WA beef and bovine offal, and a growing market for avocados and citrus.
“Agricultural products are also a valuable export component of Western Australia’s trade relationship with the Middle East region, worth $1.6 billion in recent years.”