Local businesses were invited to find out more about Australia’s Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with China, Japan and Korea at a seminar in Rosebud on Thursday.
The seminar was hosted by Austrade, in conjunction with Flinders MP Greg Hunt, to assist local businesses in expanding into international export markets.
The seminar, held at Rosebud Country Club on Thursday (April 14), was open to all local businesses.
Mr Hunt said the seminar was an opportunity for businesses to find out about how they could benefit from Australia’s North Asia FTAs with China, Japan and Korea.
“It was brilliant to meet with local business owners at the Free Trade Agreement seminar in Rosebud,” Mr Hunt said.
“This was a chance for local businesses to find out more about the benefits of our Free Trade Agreements but was also a great networking opportunity for businesses to learn from each other.”
Mornington Peninsula Brewery Managing Director Matt Bebe said the seminar had provided invaluable advice about how to move into international markets.
“We are looking at expanding into China, Korea and Japan,” Mr Bebe said.
“The seminar was a great opportunity to speak with other businesses about how they have expanded into international markets and to learn from their experiences. It is about gaining awareness of what is going on and how we can take advantage of it.
“The Free Trade Agreements provide an opportunity for both parties to benefit, it is attractive to us and it is attractive to the international markets – it’s win-win.
“Next year I will be attending the Shanghai International Beer Festival to see how we can expand over there.
“Our Chinese distributers have been very proactive about marketing our brand overseas. It is about understanding different cultures and customs and being able to adapt our products to a different market.”
Senior Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials, Austrade and other government agencies attended the seminar to answer any questions from business owners about the advantages of the FTAs and provide assistance in negotiating the bureaucracies of other countries.
Mr Hunt said the seminar was part of the Government’s commitment to increasing Australia’s export opportunities.
“Increasing trade and investment is at the heart of the Turnbull Coalition Government’s plan to boost jobs and growth,” Mr Hunt said.
“The Coalition has a strong track record in advancing trade and investment opportunities for Australians and Australian businesses, having struck bilateral Free Trade Agreements with our top five trading partners.”
“These Free Trade Agreements have opened up opportunities for commodity trade between some of our biggest trading partners, particularly in the services economy. This will assist as we transition from a commodity-based economy towards the more services-based sectors.”
For more information on the FTAs visit www.austrade.gov.au or contact Austrade Direct on 13 28 78.
There is also a new FTA Portal where businesses can go to get free and accurate information on tariffs under the FTAs at https://ftaportal.dfat.gov.au/