Gulf Trade Mission to Boost WA Primary Exports

• Trade mission to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates will promote Western Australian produce and expand exports
• Gulf region is a growth market for WA agrifood products
• Mission supports outcomes aligned with Diversify WA, the State's economic developmentstrategy

Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis is leading a trade mission to the Gulf region this week, pursuing new opportunities to drive WA's primary industries in these key markets.

The Minister will meet with retail, wholesale and hospitality business leaders, and government officials in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar to discuss trade opportunities for WA sheep meat, beef, seafood, fresh produce, and other agrifood products.

The Gulf is a growing market for WA agrifood businesses, spurred on by the new Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, daily direct flights to the region, and rising incomes.

The mission will build on WA's strong trade relationship with the region, worth $955.4 million in 2024-25, led by grain and meat exports.

WA has an enviable reputation in the Gulf as a reliable supplier of premium quality, safe, sustainably produced products that satisfy discerning customer requirements.

A delegation of seven WA agrifood businesses have joined the mission to gain insight into the Gulf market and forge commercial connections, facilitated by Invest and Trade WA's India-Gulf office, and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.

The Cook Government continues to cultivate opportunities in the Gulf via regional trade exhibitions and hosting inbound activities, such as the recent Taste WA buyers mission in October 2025 which involved 90 local agribusinesses.

Minister Jarvis' mission enhances the efforts to expand WA's primary industries export destinations; a key pillar of the Cook Government's Diversify WA strategy to support a strong economy and create jobs.

As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis:

"The Gulf region is an important growth market for WA's primary industries, underpinned by a longstanding export relationship and a new trade agreement with the UAE that has seen nearly all agrifood tariffs removed.

"This mission will help open the door to new export opportunities for WA's premium agrifood products, supporting business expansion and communities across the State.

"Building exports in the Gulf forms part of our government's priority to grow WA's red meat sector by working to unlock new opportunities internationally for our processors.

"Diversifying WA's presence in global marketplaces is an important step in future-proofing our primary industries sector and the economy."

Gulf mission delegation