Eleven Western Australian agribusinesses will share in $408,000 in the third round of the McGowan Government’s Grants for Asian Market Export, designed to stimulate new export opportunities, economic growth and jobs.
Matching funding of $20,000 to $50,000 has been provided to grant recipients seeking to implement strategies, models and export promotions to value-add to their products and become more competitive in Asian markets.
Projects funded in this round include support for boosting premium lamb exports in Asia, funding for a macadamia nut coating facility, funds to develop trayless and recyclable sweet corn packaging, and investment in new fruit sorting technologies.
The funding is part of the McGowan Government’s commitment to provide firm foundations from which local operators can develop new business initiatives targeting high-value, premium Asian markets.
More information on the Grants for Asian Market Export, administered as a part of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s Asian Market Success project, is available at https://www.agric.wa.gov.au
As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
“The Grants for Asian Market Export has been an important initiative that has already supported 14 diverse WA agribusinesses to build their enterprises to be in a strong position to pursue the Asian market.
“This round of grants will assist another 11 recipients to take their businesses to the next level, so they can be confident to pursue a share of the highly competitive Asian markets.
“There has been strong interest in this program, reflecting the great work being done in WA’s rapidly growing high-value premium food and beverage sector.
“Asia continues to be the major export destination for WA agricultural products, led by China, Indonesia, Vietnam and Japan.”
Grants for Asian Market Export – Round Three recipients:
- Naturaliste Vintners – $23,000 to build relationships with key Chinese distributors and influencers to generate a better understanding and appreciation of the provenance of the Margaret River wine region.
- WA Corn Growers – $50,000 to develop trayless, 100 per cent recyclable sweet corn packaging to compete more effectively on quality and price in selected Asian markets.
- Northern Valley Packers – $45,000 to research Near Infrared technologies to ensure the purchase of the most suitable equipment to sort and deliver fruit with specific sweetness levels to satisfy export markets.
- Ocean Grown Abalone – $50,000 to develop a marketing strategy and build brand awareness to expand export opportunities for WA green lip abalone products.
- Bahen & Co – $37,000 to construct a macadamia nut coating facility to value-add to WA macadamia nuts and meet growing demand in premium Asian retail markets.
- Dorper Lamb – $50,000 to expand brand awareness and capture high-value growth opportunities via a range of market strategies with existing and new customers in South East Asia.
- Tosum (Capogreco Farms) – $25,000 towards installing and implementing a robotic palletiser in its pack house in order to lower melon production costs and become more internationally competitive.
- Pemberton Fresh – $25,000 to develop strategies to introduce additional premium fruit, vegetables and value-added products, complementing existing potato exports to Singapore.
- Odyssey Creek Estate – $26,000 to develop a wine marketing and promotion package to target selected Asian markets.
- Latitude 28 Produce – $50,000 to integrate RFID tracking information into a blockchain application to supply customers with improved provenance data about its beef and lamb exports.
- Dickinson Estate – $27,000 to develop wine promotion activities with Chinese importers and increase awareness of the Blackwood Valley wine region.
