Closer look at meat and dairy
Food and beverage importers from many parts of the world were in Gippsland region last week on a trade mission.
They visited a number of meat and dairy producers and processors on Thursday.
Meat importers from across the Middle East, South East Asia and Bangladesh visited a cattle farm, Victoria Valley Meats abattoir that opened at Trafalgar earlier this year and the Victorian Livestock Exchange at Leongatha.
The dairy tour by delegates from China, Japan and South East Asia included an inspection and talks at the National Centre for Dairy Research and Development at Ellinbank.
They also visited ViPlus Dairy at Toora and Burra Foods at Korumburra.
The delegations were accompanied by officers from Regional Development Victoria.
The visits were part of Food and Beverage Trade Week, Victoria’s major inbound trade mission targeting the global food and beverage market.
About 150 international buyers and investors visited agricultural regions in Gippsland, the Goulburn Valley, Geelong area and Yarra Valley.
Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade Philip Dalidakis said the trade mission provided opportunities for Victorian businesses to form sustainable partnerships to help them grow, create jobs and strengthen local economies.
The Trade Week program also included oneon-one business matching sessions and a range of networking events.