AGWEST and the Department of Commerce and Trade have joined forces to appoint a representative in Taipei who will develop WA agriculture and fisheries interests.
The Australian Business Centre, as part of Austrade, will manage the WA Business Development Project supporting AGWEST’s Focus Taiwan project.
Fisheries Minister Monty House said the Australian Business Centre would provide specialist assistance to develop the WA agribusiness and fisheries sectors through export trade development and promotion, two-way investment attraction and alliance building in the Taiwanese market.
It would also capitalise on the early success of Focus Taiwan which was launched in 1998.
“Focus Taiwan is currently acting as a springboard for increasing trade in agriculture, fisheries, food products, services and technology to develop strategic partnerships and investment opportunities,” Mr House said.
“Taiwan is WA’s seventh largest agricultural and fisheries export market worth $187 million in 1997-98 and offering significant growth potential.
“We are currently taking the opportunity to align WA trade more closely with Taiwan in the lead up to its accession into the World Trade Organisation that will progressively cause the liberalisation of tariffs,” he said.
