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New chambers-assisted export program helps businesses enter China
MORE small and medium-sized Australian businesses will be able to showcase their products in China, through the biggest and boldest program ever undertaken by the Australian Business chambers movement.
Export Growth China enables Australian businesses to showcase their goods and services to the Chinese market through a custom-designed, high-end showroom in Shanghai, where many Chinese wholesale buyers are based. 
The program is being delivered by Australian Business Solutions Group (ABSG) – which is aligned with the Australian Business chambers organisation that includes NSW Business Chamber, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland and the Canberra Business Council – and it has received funding from the Australian Government through its Asian Business Engagement Plan.
According to ABSG Queensland manager, Greg Williamson, Export Growth China is already sparking the interest of several Queensland businesses including Sunshine Coast-based The Grape Hunter, which provides expert advice to boutique winemakers across Australia in establishing, marketing, and selling wine locally and overseas.
“As a wine maker myself, I understand the challenges that many boutique wineries face,” The Grape Hunter founder Michael Datta said.
“I started this business in 2010, initially to act as a central online hub of information about wine, including sharing wine reviews, providing news about the industry, and organising and promoting industry events.
“However, the positive response it attracted saw it expand from almost a ‘portal-type’ site, to a complete end-to-end business advisory firm for winemakers. In addition, we now offer similar support to businesses from other industries such as seafood and cattle.
“As part of our offering, we want to assist our clients in exporting their goods overseas to markets like China,” Mr Datta said.
“I’m very excited that at a small cost and low risk, the Export Growth China program will allow us to test our clients’ products in the showroom to see if they have potential to be a success in China.
“The knowledge that we will gain will also support our long term goal of employing people in Shanghai to give us a permanent presence there.”
ABSG’s Mr Williamson said with a population of more than 1.3 billion, and an average 8.8 percent GDP growth per year, China is now Australia’s number one export market with 250 million emerging middle-class citizens “with a known preference for clean, green, and safe products”.
“Export Growth China enables SMEs to showcase samples of their goods and services in the Shanghai showroom, helping to market their products to Chinese buyers and match them with Australian companies,” Mr Williamson said.
“If a wholesale buyer is interested, we then help facilitate individual trade agreements so that the Australian company can retail their products throughout China.
“Likewise, if a product is not generating interest, our intelligence on the ground will be able to provide insight and advice as to why this may be the case and how it can be addressed,” Mr Williamson said.
“For example, the issue could be around labelling, packaging, the size, or ingredients of the product, which can be provided back to the SME and they can adjust accordingly if they wish.
“We will be there every step of the way, keeping business owners updated on Chinese buyers’ interest in their goods and services.”
The showroom, which has been in the pipeline for more than two years, will be fully staffed and stocked with Australian products by mid-2015.
Registrations are now open to any member of a chamber of commerce throughout Australia to take part in the Export Growth China program.
Ph: 1800 505 529.
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