Photo: The Weekly Times

Minister for Agriculture and Regional Development Jaclyn Symes officially opened the Victorian Government stand at Gulfood in Dubai, which attracts up to 100,000 visitors across five days.

Gulfood is the world’s largest annual food and hospitality trade show and is particularly important for Victoria, with our food and fibre exports to the Middle East and North Africa worth $1.1 billion in 2017-18.

Meat, grain, dairy and processed foods were Victoria’s highest value exports to the region with processed food showing the most significant growth from the previous year.

Victoria’s food and fibre industries make some of the best products in the world and the Andrews Labor Government is supporting them to grow their export opportunities by connecting them to international markets.

The Labor Government has an ambitious target to grow global food and fibre exports to $20 billion by 2030, and it is on track to meet it.

Agriculture Victoria is working with industry and other stakeholders to strengthen Victoria’s biosecurity and food safety capability, with a focus on traceability, product assurance and integrity systems to ensure confidence in international markets.

On top of this, in September Victoria will host the inaugural Global Table, a five-day agri-food business event for the Asia-Pacific region, positioned to become Australia’s flagship food industry event.

It will position Australia as an exciting destination to discover innovation, technology and new food products.

Food + Wine Victoria will deliver the event – drawing on their expertise delivering the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival — which is part of the Labor Government’s $15 million Taste Victoria initiative.