Chance to promote WA agriculture in Middle East

Agriculture Minister Kim Chance will visit the Middle East this month in an effort to grow Western Australia's $1 billion worth of exports in agriculture and food to the region.

Mr Chance said the Middle East was one of WA's largest export markets and opportunities had been identified for this to increase, particularly in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

"Last year, several delegations from the Middle East visited WA to investigate possible joint projects, and this visit is an opportunity to follow up on some of these," the Minister said.

"In particular, projects currently under consideration by authorities in Abu Dhabi include a soil survey and a food control system. The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture is also considering a project including meat processing facilities and a biosecurity program in Qatar.

"A veterinary laboratory and control system for Dubai Municipality is another project also being explored."

Mr Chance will also visit the new Agriculture Minister in Egypt and for the first time travel to Turkey, Bangladesh and Algeria.

"All these countries provide opportunities to generate new export markets for WA, with Turkey in particular having been identified as a potential market for meat exports," he said.

"The Gallop Government is providing new jobs and opportunities for Western Australians."

The Minister said the delegation would also use this visit to meet with major buyers from WA including KLTT, Barakat and Al Ghurair in Dubai, Muwashi in Qatar, Five Star, Hijazi and Gosheh in Egypt and to discuss new exports of meat, dairy, grain and horticulture products.

The Ministerial delegation includes the minister, his wife, parliamentary secretary Tony McRae, a senior policy adviser and two Department of Agriculture staff.

The delegation will visit Bangladesh, the UAE, Egypt, Algeria and Turkey between January 14 and February 3.