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Australian defence companies suit up for export push

THE second edition of the Australian Military Sales Catalogue was released this week to promote the products and services produced by Australia’s defence industry internationally.

Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne said the first catalogue launched in 2017 had been successful for the companies involved. The second edition features 69 companies manufacturing defence products and providing services to the sector. 

“The Australian Military Sales is an important initiative for us to showcase the vast range of products and services the Australian defence industry can export to our friends and allies to boost their capability,” Mr Pyne said. 

The catalogue lists Australian Defence Force (ADF) equipment featuring a demonstrated viable capability that other countries might seek to purchase.

“It supports our Smart Buyer approach to the acquisition, sustainment and disposal of ADF capability by working more closely with industry,” Mr Pyne said.

“This year’s catalogue has been expanded to include products and services from 69 Australian defence companies – including small and medium enterprises, and companies located across the country including from regional Australia.

“As Minister for Defence Industry, I am constantly reminded of the enormous ability, skill and determination of our Australian defence industry. The Turnbull Government is supporting them in a number of ways including through the Defence Export Strategy I announced with the Prime Minister on 29 January 2018.

“This catalogue is another way for the government to help Australia’s Defence Industry reach the markets of our friends and allies,” Mr Pyne said.

The transfer of ex-ADF equipment to foreign governments is subject to a “rigorous” approval process independent from the Australian Military Sales Office, Mr Pyne said.

www.defence.gov.au/casg/AMSC

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Export Council applauds Australia on digital trade approach

THE Export Council of Australia (ECA) has applauded the Australian Government’s leading efforts in establishing a work program to set rules for digital trade at the 11th World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Ministerial Conference (MC11) this week in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

“Open, transparent and rules-based international trade are critical to Australia’s economic prosperity,” ECA strategic advisor Lisa McAuley said.

“E-commerce, digital trade and the tech start-ups they foster are increasingly important elements of Australia’s trade future. 

“Creating certainty around digital rules and regulations will therefore allow companies in Australia’s digital economy to confidently explore opportunities around the world,” Ms McAuley said. 

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Steven Ciobo said this initiative would put in place a framework to shape the rules of international e-commerce in the years to come.

It included 70 of the WTO’s 164 members that collectively account for more than 75 percent of global trade, including the US, Japan and the European Union.

Ms McAuley said the agreement would assist in implementing basic standards for digital trade in areas like consumer protection and electronic contracts.

Such standards may play a critical role in removing barriers and complexities to digital trade, with studies finding that around 70 regional trade agreements around the world currently include chapters on e-commerce, according to the ECA.

www.export.org.au

 

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Resources on agenda during Australia Business Week in India

  • Trade

A SERIES of mining equipment, technology and services related seminars, meetings and events took place at Australia Business Week in India 2017 last week

Building on the first Australia Business Week in India in 2015, more than 150 business delegates took part this year. Australia’s delegation met Indian businesses and officials in more than 75 sessions and site visits.

“India is the world's fastest growing major economy and our trade and investment ties with this important partner are becoming stronger each year,” said Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Keith Pitt, who led the mining services aspects of the trade mission. 

“By 2030, India is forecast to be the third largest economy in the world, and will also have one of the youngest populations,” Mr Pitt said.

“The opportunities for Australian businesses are profound and I congratulate the large number of delegates for joining Australia Business Week in India 2017.”

The business mission overall was led by Trade, Tourism and Investment Minister, Steven Ciobo. Australian Government Ministers planned to visit cities including New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Bhopal, but some of those sessions were curtailed owing to localised flooding. 

Mr Pitt said he focused on the energy and resources sector delegation across both New Delhi and Kolkata.

Mr Pitt said Australia was a major supplier of energy to India. Australia’s exports of coal helped to underpin India’s goal of energy security and Australian firms in the mining, equipment and technology services – known as the METS sector -- were also helping to improve the safety and efficiency of India’s mines.

In 2016, India was Australia's fifth biggest export market for goods, the sixth for services exports, and total goods and services exports were worth $14.1 billion.

Mr Pitt said two-way trade had grown from about $609 million in 2004 to $20.7 billion in 2016.

"Two-way trade between Australia and India has grown rapidly but more can always be done to expand our trade and investment ties, particularly by bringing businesses together,” he said.

“Australia Business Week in India 2017 will build on the success of the inaugural event in 2015, which created lasting relationships and generated millions of dollars of business.”

www.dfat.gov.au

https://australiashowcase.com.au/index.php/showcase-3

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Australia-India Council grants announced

  • Trade

FOREIGN Minister Julie Bishop has announced the successful applicants for the 2017-18 Australia-India Council (AIC) grants program.

“The AIC works to advance Australia’s foreign and trade policy interests by building awareness and understanding between our countries to further grow our relationship and promote collaboration between Australian and Indian organisations,” Ms Bishop said. 

“Each year the AIC awards grants to innovative projects which boost links between Australia and India and enhance our relationship.

“In 2017-18, the AIC will award more than $660,000 to projects with a focus on sectors including education, resources and energy, and agriculture.”

An International Agriculture for Development Pty Ltd project has been awarded a grant to develop technical skills for farming women in West Bengal.

Also awarded is a Western Sydney University project that captures and re-uses excess water to improve agricultural crop yields.

Successful too is a program to connect highly qualified Indian students and engineers from Rajasthan with academics from South Australian universities to study water resources management for eight weeks.

Meanwhile a series of ABC radio programs will also be developed to present a portrait of contemporary India in Australia.

More information about the Australia-India Council, the grants program and a full list of successful grant recipients is available on the Australia-India Council website. 

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Aust. delegation explores Indian supermarket ecosystem

  • Trade

AN AUSTRALIAN agribusiness delegation met with Indian agri-food industry representatives, as part of the Australia Business Week in India activities, to gain new insights and perspectives on agriculture and trade.​

Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister, Luke Hartsuyker, met with the Confederation of Indian Industry in Chennai on August 28, to discuss the business and trade environment in India, and challenges and opportunities for India's agri-food sector.​ Luke Hartsuyker addresses a forum in New Delhi as part of Australian Business Week in India.

“Australia and India share a strong and cooperative relationship, and there are exciting opportunities for us to further strengthen these ties and to expand trade and investment links between our nations' food and agriculture sectors,” Mr Hartsuyker said.

“India is the fastest growing major economy in the world, with GDP growth rates forecast to reach 7.7 percent in 2018, compared with the average GDP growth rate of 1.7 percent for G7 member countries.

"India's domestic agri-food demand is expected to increase by 136 percent between 2009 and 2050 — reflecting strong income and population growth.

“Australia understands the strong priority that India places on increasing its food security and agricultural productivity, and I believe there are many mutually-beneficial opportunities for our agri-food sectors to support India in this,” Mr Hartsuyker said.

“Australia aims to be a reliable supplier to India of high-quality agricultural products that can complement domestic supply, undergo further processing and value-adding by Indian businesses, target the high-end of the market, and meet counter-seasonal demand.

“There are exciting opportunities to work together to increase both our nations’ agricultural productivity and efficiency in food supply chains.

“The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources is currently in talks with India to support a proposed MoU between Sugar Research Australia and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s Sugarcane Breeding Institute — this will be a partnership between the world's second and third largest sugar exporters.

“This MoU would provide important opportunities to improve Australian and Indian industry productivity and profitability, through variety development, variety exchange, staff exchange, and cooperation on breeding systems and phenomics.

“I look forward to seeing our broad-ranging food and agricultural partnership with India continue to strengthen and grow in coming months and years, including through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement.”

Minister Hartsuyker was in India from August 27 to September 1 as part of a delegation to strengthen agricultural ties with India, coinciding with Australia Business Week in India.

www.austrade.gov.au/Events/australia-business-week-india-2017. 

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Australian agriculture has finger on India’s pulse

  • Trade

AUSTRALIA’s capabilities as a supplier of high-quality food, services, expertise and technologies that can increase the productivity and efficiency of food value chains were on show during an Australia–India food seminar in New Delhi last week.

At a seminar in New Delhi, delegates learned of how Australian technologies and systems could boost India’s agribusiness yields, while Australia is already India’s supplier of choice for chickpeas and the country’s second largest international supplier of grains and pulses.. 

​Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister, Luke Hartsuyker, addressed the seminar at Australia Business Week in India on a range of topics including: food safety and nutrition; food logistics; trading systems; and Australia's clean and green grains and pulses.

“Australian grains and pulses are high quality, safe and can complement India's own production,” Mr Hartsuyker said.

“Australia is India’s provider of choice for chickpeas and the second largest provider of wheat behind Ukraine.

“India was Australia's fifth-largest agricultural export market in 2016–17, valued at more than $3.1 billion.

“With an estimated GDP growth rate of 7.7 percent in 2018, compared to the average of 1.7 percent for G7 economies, India boasts one of the world's fastest growing economies and is forecast to become the third-largest by 2030.”

Mr Hartsuyker said India’s expanding middle class presented a wealth of opportunities for Australian suppliers of high-quality food and services, as well as expertise and technology that can increase the efficiency of food value chains in India.

“There are great opportunities to expand trade in wool, cotton, oilseeds, edible oils, lamb, and horticulture — particularly for tree nuts through increased demand for our counter seasonal Australian production,” Mr Hartsuyker said.

“There is huge potential for both countries to build on mutually-beneficial trade and I am eager to promote Australia's premium agricultural sectors and help pave the way for new business opportunities.”

www.austrade.gov.au/Events/australia-business-week-india-2017

 

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