Australian Government acts quickly to secure export opportunity
Australia canola growers are looking forward to a golden future in the growing market of Pakistan after a joint effort by government and industry reopened exports to the country. This will be the first time in five years that Australian canola seeds will be available in Pakistan.
Austrade, the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade worked with Pakistani authorities to resolve phytosanitary and technical import issues.
As a result of their coordinated approach, Pakistani importers were granted permits to import Australian canola seeds in late May. Agribusiness trading company Cargill and other traders can now resume exporting canola seeds to Pakistan.
"We now have access to a market we haven't been exporting to for several years," says Peter McBride, Director, Corporate Affairs – Asia Pacific, Cargill. "It opens up opportunities for Australia to diversify its canola exports to a growing market, which will ultimately benefit Australian canola growers."
The Australian Government is providing $72.7 million to help Australian farming, forestry and fishing exporters to expand and diversify their export markets as part of the Agribusiness Expansion Initiative.
