AUSTRALIA’s capabilities as a supplier of high-quality food, services, expertise and technologies that can increase the productivity and efficiency of food value chains were on show during an Australia–India food seminar in New Delhi last week.

At a seminar in New Delhi, delegates learned of how Australian technologies and systems could boost India’s agribusiness yields, while Australia is already India’s supplier of choice for chickpeas and the country’s second largest international supplier of grains and pulses.. 

​Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister, Luke Hartsuyker, addressed the seminar at Australia Business Week in India on a range of topics including: food safety and nutrition; food logistics; trading systems; and Australia's clean and green grains and pulses.

“Australian grains and pulses are high quality, safe and can complement India's own production,” Mr Hartsuyker said.

“Australia is India’s provider of choice for chickpeas and the second largest provider of wheat behind Ukraine.

“India was Australia's fifth-largest agricultural export market in 2016–17, valued at more than $3.1 billion.

“With an estimated GDP growth rate of 7.7 percent in 2018, compared to the average of 1.7 percent for G7 economies, India boasts one of the world's fastest growing economies and is forecast to become the third-largest by 2030.”

Mr Hartsuyker said India’s expanding middle class presented a wealth of opportunities for Australian suppliers of high-quality food and services, as well as expertise and technology that can increase the efficiency of food value chains in India.

“There are great opportunities to expand trade in wool, cotton, oilseeds, edible oils, lamb, and horticulture — particularly for tree nuts through increased demand for our counter seasonal Australian production,” Mr Hartsuyker said.

“There is huge potential for both countries to build on mutually-beneficial trade and I am eager to promote Australia's premium agricultural sectors and help pave the way for new business opportunities.”

www.austrade.gov.au/Events/australia-business-week-india-2017

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AN AUSTRALIAN agribusiness delegation met with Indian agri-food industry representatives, as part of the Australia Business Week in India activities, to gain new insights and perspectives on agriculture and trade.​

Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister, Luke Hartsuyker, met with the Confederation of Indian Industry in Chennai on August 28, to discuss the business and trade environment in India, and challenges and opportunities for India's agri-food sector.​ 

“Australia and India share a strong and cooperative relationship, and there are exciting opportunities for us to further strengthen these ties and to expand trade and investment links between our nations' food and agriculture sectors,” Mr Hartsuyker said.

“India is the fastest growing major economy in the world, with GDP growth rates forecast to reach 7.7 percent in 2018, compared with the average GDP growth rate of 1.7 percent for G7 member countries.

"India's domestic agri-food demand is expected to increase by 136 percent between 2009 and 2050 — reflecting strong income and population growth.

“Australia understands the strong priority that India places on increasing its food security and agricultural productivity, and I believe there are many mutually-beneficial opportunities for our agri-food sectors to support India in this,” Mr Hartsuyker said.

“Australia aims to be a reliable supplier to India of high-quality agricultural products that can complement domestic supply, undergo further processing and value-adding by Indian businesses, target the high-end of the market, and meet counter-seasonal demand.

“There are exciting opportunities to work together to increase both our nations’ agricultural productivity and efficiency in food supply chains.

“The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources is currently in talks with India to support a proposed MoU between Sugar Research Australia and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s Sugarcane Breeding Institute — this will be a partnership between the world's second and third largest sugar exporters.

“This MoU would provide important opportunities to improve Australian and Indian industry productivity and profitability, through variety development, variety exchange, staff exchange, and cooperation on breeding systems and phenomics.

“I look forward to seeing our broad-ranging food and agricultural partnership with India continue to strengthen and grow in coming months and years, including through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement.”

Minister Hartsuyker was in India from August 27 to September 1 as part of a delegation to strengthen agricultural ties with India, coinciding with Australia Business Week in India.

www.austrade.gov.au/Events/australia-business-week-india-2017. 

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EUROPEAN Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini, has signed an EU-Australia Framework Agreement with Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Julie Bishop.

The signing of the Framework Agreement marks the beginning of a new era of strategic cooperation between Australia and the European Union (EU). 

The agreement will enhance cooperation between Australia and the EU to tackle challenges in foreign and security policy, sustainable development, climate change, and economic and trade matters. It will encourage closer links between leaders across government, business and civil society.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said, "Australia and the EU are natural partners. We share common values and cultural heritage, and are committed to free and open markets.

"The Framework Agreement builds on our already close ties and aspirations for deeper cooperation and will strengthen Australia's bilateral relationship with the EU, in an era of unprecedented global development and volatility."

Vice-President Federica Mogherini said, "Europe and Australia are geographically very far apart, but we work together on a daily basis on the global stage, as like-minded partners and friends. Ours is a partnership of opportunities: bringing our populations closer together to facilitate exchanges, trade, and sharing knowledge.

"The agreement we have signed today reflects how strong our ties are already and how they will become stronger through our increased exchanges and cooperation, for the sake of our peoples and of the world."

The agreement will guide future engagement between Australia and the EU and complement work towards launching negotiations for a comprehensive, high quality free trade agreement.

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AUSTRALIA POST managing director and CEO, Ahmed Fahour is joining the board of global parcel express delivery and logistics company, Aramex.

The move is part of the strategic e-commerce alliance between Australia Post and Aramex announced in June. 

It is being called “a natural progression in the strategic relationship between Australia Post and Aramex”, which includes a Singapore-based joint venture targeting the global e-commerce market, with a particular focus on Asia.

Mr Fahour’s appointment is subject to Aramex shareholder approval, which will be sought at the next annual general meeting in April 2017.

Mr Fahour said the joint venture would help Australia Post grow the Australian e-commerce market, capturing more inbound parcel volumes and providing a platform for outbound growth.

“This is a critical part of ensuring a sustainable future for Australia Post and securing Australian jobs,” Mr Fahour said.

www.auspost.com.au