News From : DagangHalal.com (30 Sep 2009)
MELBOURNE, Sept 30 (Bernama) — Malaysian exporters should focus more marketing and promotion efforts on the Australian food and beverage market, says Ong Yew Chee, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) Sydney Trade Commissioner.
In 2008, Australia imported selected food products from the world worth A$9.25 billion, with selected food and beverage imports from Malaysia valued at A$487.4 million.
Processed food made up about 95 per cent of the total value of food imports into Australia, Ong said, and with a culturally diverse population, demand for ethnic food was increasing Down Under.
Almost six million migrants have arrived in Australia from more than 200 countries.
And, with more than 100,000 Malaysians living in Australia, there is a ready market for food products from Malaysia, Ong said.
As Muslims form an increasingly important part of modern Australian society, Malaysia’s halal food has been well accepted by the market, he said.
Halal food imports form a small but rapidly growing part of the Australian food industry as indicated by strong interest in the Malaysian pavilion at the Fine Food Australia trade expo held in Sydney this month, Ong said.
Many Muslims and mainstream Australians were looking more and more towards halal frozen food, he said.
Taking part in trade fairs such as the Fine Food Australia was the best way to promote products to the region, he said.
He advised Malaysian companies interested in exporting food and beverage products to Oceania to exhibit at the 2010 event in Melbourne.
By Neville D’Cruz
— BERNAMA