Media release
Tuesday, 6 August 2002 - MVT090
SunRice secures $A15m export contract with Taiwan
Australia’s largest branded food exporter, SunRice, has been awarded a $A15 million contract to supply 24,000 tonnes of Australian rice to Taiwan, Trade Minister Mark Vaile said today.
Mr Vaile said the Taiwan contract is great news for the Riverina based agricultural producer, as the rice market in Taiwan has only recently opened up as a result of their accession to the World Trade Organisation in January this year.
“The Australian rice industry, through SunRice, has been quick to harvest the benefits provided by the WTO in improving access for Australian exporters in Taiwan,” Mr Vaile said.
“The successful bid by SunRice is further proof that Australia is a first rate competitor in the world market.
“This $15 million contract to supply 24,000 tonnes of rice to an Asian market demonstrates Australian rice competes on quality in a fiercely competitive pricing environment. I congratulate SunRice on its success.”
Mr Vaile said, according to SunRice, milling for the Taiwanese rice contract is expected to commence in the next few weeks, with the first shipment due in Taiwan in mid-September.
In 2001-2002 Australia exported more than 550,000 tonnes of rice. Australia’s rice industry directly employs approximately 8,000 people, the majority in regional Australia.
Media Contact: Mark Croxford, Parliament House, Canberra 2600 Ph: +61 2 6277 7420 Fx: +61 2 6273 4128
Local Date:
Friday, 21-Nov-2008 16:41:53 EST
