Dairy leaders from South East Asia will soon be walking through Victorian pastures as part of a new scholarship program unveiled last night in Indonesia.
Victorian Agriculture Minister Peter Walsh and Dairy Australia were in Jakarta to announce the 15 dairy scholarships, which follow similar funded programs in China and Japan.
Dairy Australia’s Group Manager for Trade and Strategy, Charlie McElhone, says the scholarships are designed to build partnerships and boost trade in South East Asia.
«Essentially this is really about relationships and acknowledging that five of the top ten dairy export markets are from that South East Asian region,» said Mr McElhone
«They are important relationships and building those ties with those key markets is so vital to the Australian dairy industry.»
The 15 scholarship participants will be guided through Victorian dairy production, quality assurance and safety systems, with the hope it will foster confidence in the local industry.
With dairy exports to South East Asia totalling $810 million in 2013, accounting for 29% of total dairy exports, Mr McElhone says it is a key market, but one that is extremely competitive.
«There is a huge opportunity for Australian dairy exports in the South East Asian region, everyone acknowledges that, but at the same time there is that realisation it is a competitive environment,” he said.
«We have strong competition from markets like New Zealand, the European Union and the United States, so relationships are very important.»
Up to two scholarships will be available for Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Philippines, and up to three additional scholarships will be granted across Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Brunei.
Source: ABC