Trade and Investment mission targets opportunities in China

Showcasing the Sunshine Coast’s niche food businesses to generate more export opportunities and investment in our region. That’s the aim of this week’s trade and investment mission to China and Hong Kong by Deputy Mayor Tim Dwyer.

Cr Dwyer said the seven-day mission supports the Regional Economic Development Strategy (REDS) objective to increase investment in our region and increase exports of locally produced goods and services.

“China’s rapidly expanding population is increasing demand for imported food products. Australia’s brands are highly regarded due to our clean, green reputation and Sunshine Coast food businesses certainly epitomise that,” Cr Dwyer said.

“China is Queensland’s largest trading partner and is predicted to become the world’s largest economy in the near future. Its growing middle class and proximity to Queensland offer significant opportunities for Sunshine Coast companies.

“This mission will include meetings with key investors in Beijing and Hong Kong in addition to supporting the five Sunshine Coast exporters participating in Asia’s largest food and hospitality exhibition, HOFEX in Hong Kong.

“New investment generates new businesses, offering more enduring employment opportunities for our Coast residents and delivering new facilities and services to meet the needs of our communities.”

The five Sunshine Coast exporters are participating in the Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ) Trade Mission to Hong Kong lead by the Hon. Steve Bredhauer.

The Sunshine Coast exporters; Cotton Tree Trading, Nutworks, Symply Too Good, Sunfresh Marketing and AusPac Business Advantage comprise the largest regional contingent of the 17 Queensland food exporters attending the exhibition.

This TIQ trade mission will showcase Queensland’s high quality food and beverage products at HOFEX, Asia’s leading food and hospitality tradeshow.

“HOFEX attracts around 50,000 buyers and 2,500 exhibiting companies from more than 70 countries, so it will provide an outstanding forum for our Sunshine Coast exporters to showcase their products to the world,” Cr Dwyer said.

“I will also be joining the Hon. Steve Bredhauer, Chairman of Trade and Invest Queensland in investor and government meetings in Hong Kong further demonstrating the strength of the relationship between our region and Trade and Invest Queensland, which is essential to the continued growth in opportunities for the region’s exporters.”

Export Council of Australia Head of Product Development, Collins Rex said the opportunities for Australian food exporters in China were enormous.

“The market is massive and there is a huge appetite for Australian product, particularly fresh product so when it comes to food and beverage that is produced in a clean and green and safe manner, Australia is the market that everyone is looking to in China,” she said.

“We are very fortunate in Australia that we have the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (CHAFTA) which means Australian businesses can play in markets in China that the rest of the world cannot so the potential benefits for us are massive.”

Cr Dwyer said this was an important time in the history of the Sunshine Coast as the region seeks to take a leading position as a major Australian urban and economic centre.

“We want to see new export markets for our exporters and new investment from businesses who are already here and from businesses outside our region. That’s why trade and investment missions like this are vital,” Cr Dwyer said.

This week’s trade and investment mission builds on the Export and Global Capability Program offered by council for businesses in the Sunshine Coast local government area that are export ready or considering exporting. For more information or to register for the next intake of the program, visit the business section of council’s website.

Sunshine Coast businesses are also invited to attend council’s Asia E-Commerce Export Workshop and Export Networking events on Thursday May 25 from 1pm at the Brightwater Hotel. For more information on these events or to register click here or visit the ‘ What’s On Calendar’ on council’s website.