Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Barnaby Joyce has today announced $5.3 million worth of projects to assist small exporters with market access under the Coalition Government’s Package Assisting Small Exporters Programme.
These grants deliver on a key Coalition Government election commitment to support small exporters through its $15 million four year package.
“Access to premium overseas markets is an important element of driving profits back through the farmgate for our nation’s primary producers,” Minister Joyce said.
Federal Member for Parkes, Mark Coulton welcomes today’s announcement and said the funding would give small exporters an advantage in international markets that can help them, and our regional communities, grow.
“Grain growers throughout the Parkes electorate have the potential to really benefit from these small exporter grants,” Mr Coulton said.
“Grants to Grain Trade Australia and the Grains Industry Market Access Forum will see significant work undertaken in the development of databases and procedures that will help to address some key issues faced by local grain growers.
“These issues include contaminations, negotiation of grain prices, market access negotiations and access to faster and accurate trading standards information.”
Mr Coulton said that the announcement of these grants is timely considering recent negotiations of trade agreements.
“This targeted support comes on the back of historic trade agreements the government has signed with China, Japan and Korea, the opening of seven new live export destinations, 43 technical market access breakthroughs, and follows the delivery of $30.8 million to expand our overseas network of agricultural counsellors to further improve access in key markets,” Mr Coulton said.
“Under the programme a total of $5.3 million (GST inclusive) has been committed so far to small exporters of fish, meat, egg, dairy, grains and horticulture. This is in addition to the $1.3 million already provided in rebates to assist small exporters with export registration charges.”
Further information on the Package Assisting Small Exporters Programme can be found at the Department of Agriculture’s website http://www.agriculture.gov.au/export/product-overseas/package-assisting-small-exporters.
