Victoria plates up its best for international buyers

The state’s premier inbound trade mission targeting the global food and beverage market – was in full swing last week with more than 150 leading international buyers and investors visiting more than 100 local companies at the Fine Food Australia trade show in Melbourne.

Over a period of four days, delegates from across Asia, the Middle East and the Americas had the opportunity to meet with Victoria’s world class dairy, meat and processed food producers in the state’s prime agricultural regions including Gippsland, the Goulburn Valley, the Yarra Valley and greater Geelong.

The site tour program had been tailored to suit the interests of the visiting delegates and allowed them to experience first-hand the regions where Victoria’s food is grown, processed and manufactured.

They met with local industry leaders such as Burra Foods, Pactum, Tatura Milk, Coffee Mio, and Heritage Fine Chocolates.

The program also included one-on-one business matching sessions and a range of networking events, supporting Victorian companies to establish and strengthen international trade relationships, secure new investments and grow their businesses.

With a global reputation for producing and exporting premium clean and green products, Victoria is Australia’s leading exporter of dairy, horticultural products, prepared foods and vegetables.

The state’s food and fibre sector now employs more than 190,000 Victorians and in 2014–15 food and fibre exports were valued at $11.6 billion, an increase of $282 million compared to the previous year. 

Across the same period, the state accounted for 83 per cent of Australia’s dairy exports, 48 per cent of horticultural exports and 41 per cent of prepared food exports.

Gastrology enjoyed joining the delegated on one of the eating tours of Melbourne’s laneways. It was a great opportunity to meet some of the delegates and see what they think of our amazing laneway culture and food.

First stop - Sarti pleased with its time-honoured traditions of Italian cuisine. We loved the battered calamari and wonderfully fresh scallops. A wonderful start to the evening!

Second stop - Taxi Dining wow-ed guests with the stunning view and absolutely moreish Sichuan duck. We loved the perfectly cooked duck.

Third stop - Our final stop was Fatto, located on the river terrace at Hamer Hall Melbourne where we concluded our evening on a sweet high with expertly made tiramisu and crème caramel.

FBTW is part of a four-year $12 million Andrews Labor Government initiative to build a strong and sustainable inbound trade mission program that allows us to bring investors from key international markets to our doorstep.