Enhancing agricultural ties in India

 

Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister, Luke Hartsuyker, will today depart for Chennai to lead a delegation at Australia Business Week in India (ABWI) to build on Australia’s close agricultural trading ties with India.

 

Minister Hartsuyker highlighted the value of the Indian export market and said he looked forward to meeting with Indian Government counterparts, leading Indian food industry representatives and importers and discussing Australia’s capabilities in food production, processing and handling.

 

“India was Australia’s fifth-largest agricultural export market in 2016–17, with exports valued at $3.1 billion. It’s also one of the world’s fastest growing major economies—forecast to become the third-largest by 2030—and has an expanding population of middle class consumers with a huge demand for high-quality foods,” Minister Hartsuyker said.

 

“India’s growing markets represent a wealth of opportunities for Australian suppliers of high-quality food as well as services, expertise and technologies that can increase the efficiency of food value chains in India.

 

“India is already a significant market for Australian produce including chickpeas, wheat, raw cotton, wool and lentils, and there are opportunities to expand trade in wool, cotton, oilseeds, edible oils, lamb, and horticulture, particularly other tree nuts through increasing domestic demand and counter seasonality of Australian production.

 

“There’s great potential for both countries to build on mutually-beneficial trade and I am eager to promote Australia’s premium agricultural sectors, including Aussie lamb, blueberries, grains and pulses, and help pave the way for new business opportunities.”

 

The Minister’s trip to India for ABWI includes site visits to processing facilities, a major port, a wholesale market complex, a large retail outlet selling Australian produce, and a leading grocery e-retailer—as well as forums, industry roundtables, meetings and networking opportunities where delegates will showcase Australian capabilities to Indian industry representatives.

 

ABWI will take place across multiple cities, starting in New Delhi from 28 August to 1 September 2017. For more information, visit austrade.gov.au/Events/australia-business-week-india-2017.