June 21, 2010

Australia's agricultural trade links with one of the world's fastest growing economies will be further strengthened under the latest round of Australia's agribusiness exchange programme with China.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Peter McGauran, said Friday (Jun 18) that representatives from six Australian agribusinesses would visit China as part of the Australia-China Agricultural Cooperation Agreement (ACACA) programme.

"The visits will focus on export opportunities for Australian producers in aquaculture, horticulture, cereal hay and wheat flour," McGauran said.

"The vast Chinese market represents an extraordinary opportunity for Australia's rural sector to increase its exports, and this programme allows our agribusinesses to make face-to-face contact with their Chinese counterparts," he added.

The ACACA programme is jointly managed and funded by Australia's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and China's Ministry of Agriculture.

Almost 200 exchange projects have been undertaken in sectors including beef, dairy, wool, fisheries and food processing since the programme was established in 1984. ACACA funds visits by up to six Australian agribusinesses to China every 18 months.