A DELEGATION comprising 10 businesses from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Thailand, has met some of Gippsland’s businesses to taste their wares and discuss potential trade opportunities.
Organised between Invest Gippsland, Victorian Agribusiness Council and the six Gippsland councils, the evening was designed to link successful agribusiness companies with some notable businesses in South East Asia. Included among the trade exhibitors and guests were two Gippsland processors, both with licences to export to Asia.
What surprised me was the depth of possibilities for not only Gippsland businesses, but for Victoria, and Australia, into the future.
A common term used over the past few years is that Australia will become the food bowl of Asia.
World-renowned chef Richmond Ling was the guest speaker and said he oversees a kitchen that produces between 6000-8000 meals a day. Yes, that’s correct, not a grammatical error.
Other delegates from participating countries were introduced during dinner, and each spoke of what they do, and where local businesses could make their way into South East Asia.
It amazed me how big these Asian businesses were in regard to the volume of their daily output. One couple from Kuala Lumpur, run the largest hotel in the world, having 7300 rooms. Obviously, serving breakfast to many of their guests would lead to a lot of food being served.
It seems to me that servicing just this small part of Asia would be difficult, but Robert Radford, Radford’s of Warragul, assured me that it can be done.
I have always said that for Australian producers to attain stable prices for their product, either we have to export more, or wait for our population to grow to much higher levels. This dinner was designed to kickstart a process for Gippsland producers, and I believe some deals might have been struck on the night.
Mr Ling said that they are always looking for something different to feed their customers, and providing seasonal, and year-round product from Gippsland could be very beneficial for both parties. Australian red meat is highly regarded, not only in South East Asia, but all over the world.
Mr Ling explained how the middle class of Singapore and Malaysia is growing at an alarming rate and, combined with other Asian countries, Australian producers will become a big part of the food chain.
