Australian horticultural exporters association ahea

AHEA's resource sharing portal aims to bolster trade between Australia and key export markets in Asia

The Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) has awarded an AU$159,000 grant to Australian Horticultural Exporters' Association (AHEA) to develop online information sharing between Australia and key export markets.

The ‘Australian Horticulture Export Portal,’ dubbed an online one-stop-shop for export information, will allow Australian growers and exporters to share information and resources with industry counterparts in Asia.

The online portal will collate a range of data for exporters and importers, from buyer expectations and market access details to produce pricing and consumer demands.

AHEA executive director Michelle Christoe told Asiafruit that the grant would go towards three activities: an online portal for sharing market information; supporting trade links with Asia; and conducting export programmes.

Christoe said AHEA were in the initial stages of the three-year project, and would focus on building trade relations with key export markets such as Hong Kong, Korea, China and Japan as well as equipping Australian growers and exporters with all the information they need to capitalise on the opportunities Asia presents.

AHEA has received one of 18 grants supplied by Austrade to member-based organisations as part of its AU$1.5m Asian Business Engagement Plan. Grants have also been awarded to Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers, the Export Council of Australia and Food South Australia.