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August 2003
Introduction from George Chambers, Assistant General Manager – Export and Market Development Unit, Department of Economic Development Exporters continue to face new challenges in a volatile international environment. These include the war in Iraq, mounting tensions on the Korean Peninsular, unprecedented activity in the Pacific with Australia’s involvement in the Solomon Islands, continuing slow economic activity in Japan and a relatively highly valued Australian dollar. These situations call for exporters to understand the risks they face and develop appropriate risk mitigation strategies. They also offer new opportunities in the same vein as the recovery of SARS, the recently signed Free Trade Agreement between Singapore and Australia and the real possibility of an agreement being reached between the United States and Australia. On the issue of SARS, our understanding is that activities in the affected centres are quickly returning to normal and that business activity, particularly in the areas of transportation and accommodation, is gearing up quite substantially. As an example, the Singaporean Government is contributing considerable funds to attract visitors to that country. Hong Kong is doing similar things and the restaurant trade is improving quickly. Tasmanian seafood exports to these destinations, together with other North and South East Asian countries, are returning to normal. The Department of Economic Development’s Export and Market Development Unit continues to highlight Tasmanian food and beverage products for the current retail promotions in Singapore and Hong Kong. The Export and Market Development Unit is responsive to industry needs and welcomes contact with exporters who have particular issues, wish to know more about specific markets or would like to suggest any initiatives. EXPORT AND MARKET DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES REWARD YOUR COMPANY AND YOURSELF There is still time to enter this year’s Tasmanian Export Awards, which are acknowledged as being among the state’s most prestigious accolades. Increase your company’s credibility, boost staff morale, raise your profile through our extensive media coverage and give your marketing campaign that cutting edge. These are just some of the benefits that await the winners of each of the 11 categories, which cater for the full spectrum of our business community. Too busy? We will provide someone to help you prepare your application. Do not delay as entries close on Friday 29 August 2003. Download an application form or call Ann Atkinson on 6233 5838. Austrade helps Australian companies win overseas business for their products and services. Austrade is represented in 105 locations in 58 countries including an extensive domestic network throughout Australia. One of the many Austrade services on offer is visits to businesses by its industry specialist business development managers or Trade Commissioners from overseas offices. Economic Development works closely with Austrade and facilitates visits of incoming Austrade staff. If you wish to meet with an Austrade officer from a particular country, please do not hesitate to contact Martin Turmine on 6233 5795 or email Martin.Turmine@development.tas.gov.au. Austrade staff visiting Tasmania in the near future include: Elizabeth Masamune, Seoul - 13-15 August Maritime industry development opportunity in Sydney Tasmanian companies involved in the maritime industry and related equipment supply and services sectors are invited to exhibit as part of an Economic Development-coordinated Tasmanian grouping at the international maritime exhibition Pacific 2004. Pacific 2004 is to be held at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour, Sydney, from 3-6 February 2004. The exhibition is now accepted as being the most significant event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. For more details, please contact Mark Warrener via email Mark.Warrener@development.tas.gov.au or phone 6233 5879. The success of the Brisbane Gift Fair and future opportunities Six Tasmanian businesses took Brisbane by storm at the recent gift trade fair. It was a new experience for most of the exhibitors, but from all reports an exciting and successful one. All of the exhibiting businesses secured significant orders and are keen to participate in further Tasmanian stands at future gift fairs. Gift fairs are ideal for art and craft businesses, giftware, beauty products, homewares and jewellery manufacturers and even gourmet food producers. If you are interested in participating in a Tasmanian grouping at gift fair in Sydney or Melbourne in 2004, please register your interest with Lisa Denny on 6233 5902 or email Lisa.Denny@development.tas.gov.au. ICT industry development opportunity in the United States Economic Development is seeking expressions of interest from Tasmanian ICT companies interested in participating in a Market Development Program based on a comprehensive range of activities timed for pre, during and post ANZA Tech.Net Australian and New Zealand Technology Showcase Conference 2003 to be held in Silicon Valley California from 9-11 November 2003. The program is designed for Tasmanian ICT companies that are currently active in export or seeking to develop new international market partnerships and business. It aims to help you investigate the US market potential for your products and services; understand current and future market issues, opportunities and trends; and meet qualified prospective distributors, agents and customers for your products or services with a view to developing a business relationship. All companies will pay* their own airfare, on-the-ground expenses and business services including attendance at the ANZATECH conference and Business Matching. The Boot Camps, United States Culture-Aware Seminar, Welcome dinner in San Francisco and post-conference commercialisation workshop will be subsidised by the Department of Economic Development. * For eligible companies the Intelligent Island Marketing Assistance Scheme may provide financial contributions to airfare, on-the-ground expenses and business services. For further information and to receive an EOI form, contact program coordinator Mark Warrener on 6233 5879 or email Mark.Warrener@development.tas.gov.au. Amazing Australia Fine Food and Wine from Southern Australia Launch - Singapore The products of eight Tasmanian companies were selected to participate in an ongoing food and wine promotion at Cold Storage, Tanglin Mall supermarket in Singapore. The official launch in September will be attended by Economic Development’s Lisa Denny who will meet with the merchandise team from Cold Storage as well as the Marketing Manager with a view to developing an appropriate in-store promotion to occur during a proposed Tasmanian Trade Mission to Singapore in November 2003. The proposed theme for the promotion is The Great Aussie BBQ – the Best of Tasmania. If your company is interested in putting forward products for the promotion and participating in a trade mission to Singapore in November, please contact Lisa Denny on 6233 5902 or email Lisa.Denny@development.tas.gov.au. Tasmanian Exporters Guide – ensure your entry is always current INDUSTRY NEWS Island Olive Grove to showcase in Denmark Island Olive Grove have been selected as one of 10 companies from throughout Australia to showcase their products at Austrade’s Danish Gourmet Food Market Entry Event in late August. Island Olive Grove’s participation in this event has been facilitated by Economic Development. The products to feature at the showcase in Copenhagen include hot and spicy green olives, kalamata olives, marinated mixed olives, pesto and marinated black olives. If you wish to know more about Island Olive Grove’s range of products or about Austrade’s product showcases, please contact Martin Turmine on 03 6233 5795 or email Respected wine magazine Wine Spectator recently gave Piper’s Brook Vineyard’s Ninth Island wine a strong review and listed it as Wine of the Day on 25 July 2003. This comes on top of an impressive rating of 90 points out of 100 given by respected wine critic Robert Parker. Click here to view the article. Westhaven Dairy targets Japan using JETRO services Tasmanian specialty dairy products manufacturer Westhaven Dairy participated in a visit to Tasmania by Yashushi Kowata from the Sydney office of the Japanese External Trade Organisation (JETRO) earlier this year. As a result of this visit, coordinated by Economic Development, the innovative pet food product YO Pet, which is a lactose free drinking yoghurt containing live culture, was accepted into the JETRO publication Import Business News. The information on the company and product is published in Japanese and provided to the JETRO database of Japanese import companies. Lorraine Mance, the proprietor of Westhaven, reports that inquiries have been received and sample product sent to Japan and Westhaven is awaiting feedback. The JETRO Tokyo office is also actively involved in identifying potential distributors. Working with JETRO has given Westhaven the opportunity to achieve export sales by providing an exposure in the Japanese market that might otherwise have not have occurred. Any Tasmanian company that is considering Japan as a target should consider making direct contact with Mr Kowata, the Senior Trade Adviser, by email kowata@sydney.jetro.org.au or phone on 02 9390 2760. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES Economic Development assists the development of the Tasmanian export sector by facilitating a series of seminars and workshops in association with industry. The topics addressed include a range of export related issues aimed at enhancing and adding value to companies’ export expertise and capabilities and providing market intelligence. The knowledge transfer, occurring through formal workshops and seminars, will be presented in conjunction with a range of export advisers, trade commissioners and educators and integrated with Department of Economic Development officers as required. The seminars and workshops scheduled are: Export Practices for Exporters – Hobart, November 6-7 2003 Risk Management for Exporters – early 2004 Do you want to Export? - a series of seminars targeted at new exporters. The series will be held around Tasmania. Session one (Launceston, 28 August 2003; Burnie, 27 August 2003) will be an introduction to exporting while session two (dates to be confirmed) will focus on marketing issues to be considered when exporting. Other presentations will focus on exporting to a particular country or marketing issues for specific industries. Dates will be provided when available. For more information on these seminars or workshops, please contact Martin Turmine on 6233 5795 or at Martin.Turmine@development.tas.gov.au. Global Food Safety - Safely on the Shelf Seminar Exploring the relationship between food safety and the global food market The Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is holding a seminar on global food safety in Hobart on Wednesday 3 September 2003 as part of the National Food Industry Strategy and Quality Systems initiative. Three international key speakers will provide producers and manufacturers involved in the food supply chain with an opportunity to examine emerging food safety trends in accessing the global food market. As Australian perspective, an open forum for discussion and a networking lunch will also allow participants to explore food safety issues that relate to the Australian market. For further information and to obtain a registration form, please contact Lisa Denny on 6233 5902 or email Lisa.Denny@development.tas.gov.au. BRIEF NEWS AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES Tasmanian ICT Industry Achievement Awards 2003 – Applications now open The Tasmanian ICT Industry Achievement Awards are designed to highlight the Tasmanian ICT industry’s role as a driver of economic growth in Tasmania. The awards are open to Tasmanian-based ICT companies that have designed outstanding and innovative products or services that have brought benefits to the ICT market place or have effectively implemented ICT to improve business outcomes. Applications for the 2003 awards close at 5pm on Thursday 14 August 2003. Application forms and conditions of entry are available via Tasmania’s ICT Showcase website. Finalists will be required to make a 10-15 minute presentation on site at Tasmania’s ICT Showcase Industry Expo on Thursday 21 August 2003 at Wrest Point Convention Centre. The awards will be presented at Tasmania’s ICT Showcase Dinner on Friday 22 August 2003. The awards are co-hosted by Intelligent Island, TasIT, the Australian Computer Society Tasmanian Branch and the Tasmanian IT Industry Council, with the Tasmanian Government as the major sponsor. If your company is interested in receiving more details, please contact Mark Warrener via Mark.Warrener@development.tas.gov.au or phone on 6233 5879. The Japan External Trade Organisation, JETRO, is currently seeking suitable Australian companies in the information technology and biotechnology fields for its upcoming business matching program, Techno Business Forum, taking place in Tokyo from 28-30 January 2004. JETRO Techno Business Forum 2004 is designed to help non-Japanese IT and biotechnology firms explore opportunities for business partnerships with Japanese firms, including technical tie-ups, sales alliances and much more. Any non-Japanese IT and biotechnology company seeking a Japanese business partner are welcome to apply. A total of 40 companies, comprising 30 in the IT field and 10 in the biotechnology field, will be selected from these applicants. The forum provides participants with opportunities to meet directly with potential business partners in Japan to present their companies and products/services. In addition, JETRO will work with the participants prior to the forum to find potential partners and arrange business meetings with them during the event. To receive more details, please contact Mark Warrener on 6233 5879 or email Mark.Warrener@development.tas.gov.au. Current export opportunities more DFAT travel advisories are the Australian Government’s advice to its citizens regarding the perceived travel risks and precautions that individuals should exercise. More information can be found on the Department of Foreign Affairs website.
If you have any trade and marketing queries please email at info@development.tas.gov.au or call 03 6233 5888. If you wish to subscribe to ExportActive please send an email to info@development.tas.gov.au with the words "ExportActive Newsletter Subscription" in the subject heading.
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GPO
Box 646, Hobart, 7001, Tasmania, Australia 22 Elizabeth Street, Hobart, 7000 Telephone: +61 3 6233 5888 Facsimile: +61 3 6233 5800 Email: info@development.tas.gov.au Internet: http://www.development.tas.gov.au |
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Export and Market Development Activities
