Dairy Australia visited Japan (Kansai and Tokyo) to deliver industry seminars and undertake individual meetings with key customers and Japanese trading houses. The seminars provided an update to the market on the current situation and outlook for Australian dairy. The individual meetings were a timely opportunity to discuss dairy industry issues with key customers including Rokko Butter, Lacto Japan, Morinaga, Itochu, Mitsubishi, Meiji, SnowBrand and Nosawa.
Dairy Australia visited Hong Kong and Taipei to conduct dairy seminars and industry meetings in the two markets. Two industry dairy seminars were held to update the local industry and customers about the situation and outlook of the Australian dairy industry and world dairy markets. Two cooking workshops were also held at Maxim's (Hong Kong's largest food service company) in Hong Kong and a culinary school in Taipei to promote the usage of dairy in food service and bakery.
South East Asia in-market program (June 2017)
In June 2017 Dairy Australia visited three key South East Asian markets – Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. In each market industry seminars were held at which dairy customers were updated on Australian dairy industry capability. Dairy Australia also visited culinary schools in Singapore and Thailand to provide presentations and demonstrations of Australian dairy capability and product sampling. In Malaysia we held a dairy workshop for the Malaysian Chefs Association, and in Thailand we joined with Austrade to host an interactive Australian food and wine event for key opinion leaders including chefs and media. Alumni dinners were held in each market where we enjoyed catching up with participants from previous South East Asia Dairy Scholarship programs.
Photo (left): Malaysia alumni dinner
Photo (right): Thailand alumni dinner
Photo (bottom): Singapore alumni dinner.
Dairy Australia Scholarship – Greater China program (July 2017)
The Greater China Scholarship was held in Victoria, with 18 delegates from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan participating in the two week training program. The program included industry and technical presentations, cheese making activities and visits to eight processing factories, three dairy farms and one product testing company. The delegates found the program very informative and useful to gain a better understanding of the Australian dairy industry and products, and they were able to build direct relationships with the Australian exporters and counterparts from other markets.
Photo: Delegates and industry representatives mingle at the industry dinner.
China in-market program (August 2017)
Dairy Australia attended the China Dairy Industry Association (CDIA) annual meeting and Dairy Technology and Equipment exhibition which were held in Hohhot, China. Again this year the Australian Ambassador to China attended the VIP Dinner and spoke at the opening of the CDIA conference. This is a demonstration of the close relationship between the Australian industry and government representation in China - Australia's largest dairy export market. A Dairy Australia Scholarship Alumni dinner was also held in Hohhot, with representatives from the local (Inner Mongolia) manufacturing industry, as well as visitors from elsewhere in China attending.
Photo (left): Dairy Australia representatives catching up with their Chinese counterparts and alumni at CDIA conference
Photo (right): Alumni dinner in Hohhot
South East Asia in-market program (September 2017)
In September, Dairy Australia visited the South East Asia markets of the Philippines (Manila), Vietnam (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City) and Indonesia (Jakarta). In each city local dairy industry representatives were invited to industry seminars, where we shared updated information about the current status of the Australian dairy industry, with focus on milk production levels and pending changes in the structure of the milk processing sector. We also demonstrated the ease with which high quality Australian dairy products can be used in a range of quick innovative menus, by holding cooking presentations at both the seminars and culinary schools. More than 1000 trainee chefs were able to learn about Australian dairy products and be inspired to use them as they forge careers in the hospitality industry. We were pleased to meet with old friends, hosting SEA Scholarship alumni dinners in each country. We also took the opportunity to meet with candidates for the next SEA Scholarship program which will be held in February 2018.
Photo (left): Indonesia alumni dinner
Photo (right): Philippines alumni dinner
Photo (bottom): Vietnam alumni dinner
Dairy Australia Scholarship – Japan program (September 2017)
In September, Dairy Australia celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Japan scholarship. 20 participants visited Australia for the two week program which builds on the strong relationship between the Japanese and the Australian dairy industry. Japan is Australia’s 2nd biggest export market, and the scholarship’s aim is to continue the confidence the Japanese market has in Australian dairy.
Photo: The participants visited Dairy Australia’s chairman Geoff Akers' farm
China in-market program (October 2017)
Dairy Australia visited China to hold a dairy seminar and an alumni seminar in Shanxi Province, with a cooking demonstration featuring a range of Australian dairy products. During the visit, Dairy Australia also attended Wine Australia’s China Awards event in Shanghai with the support of staging a cheese tasting session at the Wine Fair, which was attended by nearly 500 people representing trading, food service and retail sectors as well as local media.
Photo (left): Alumni learning to cook with Australian dairy products
Photo (right): A range of Australian cheese products were enjoyed by the fair attendees in Shanghai.
Japan in-market program (November 2017)
In November 2017 the annual Kangaroo Kai seminar and reception was held in Tokyo, Japan – attended by over 200 senior representatives of the Japanese dairy and food manufacturing sectors. Also in attendance were representatives of Australian dairy companies and officials from the Australian Embassy in Tokyo, including Deputy Head of Mission Clare Walsh who spoke on behalf of the Australian Government at the reception following the seminar. It was very pleasing to note that several Alumni of the Japan Dairy Scholarship were in attendance. During the seminar the participants were briefed on the current situation and outlook for Australian dairy by Dairy Australia Chair Geoff Akers. They also heard about farming issues from Deputy Chair Jeff Odgers, the World Market from Dairy Australia’s Norman Repacholi and were updated on trade policy issues by Peter Myers.
DA IN MARKET
Running for the third time, the South East Asia scholarship program attracted 16 dairy professionals from Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Indonesia as well as South Korea to visit Australia for the two week program. Participants visited farms and factories all around Victoria, learning about Australian dairy, with a focus on food safety.
On March 29 in Shanghai Dairy Australia, together with Meat and Livestock Australia, Wine Australia and Horticulture Innovation Australia hosted more than 120 media journalists, key opinion leaders and special guests at the inaugural Taste Australia event - the first time such an event has been jointly developed and staged by Australian agricultural Industry organizations working collaboratively. The event introduced media, key influencers and tastemakers to the possibilities of Australian food and drinks and the unique benefits they come with. Visitors experienced why Australian food and wine is sought after on the world stage, with the country’s diverse climate, multicultural background and global-standard production quality and safety as particular points of note. The afternoon event included special guest speakers and a cooking demonstration from Australian chef Tim Hollands, before guests experienced Australian food and wine first-hand at the tasting stations.
