AccessChina'16 to host Ag in Asia... in Asia

For the past two years Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise’s (TSBE) Ag in the Asian Century – National Export and Innovation Conference has experienced continued success.

The bar will be lifted again this year, with the conference to be held as part of the AccessChina’16 premium business delegation in the heart of the Asian opportunity, China.

The AccessChina’16 business delegation will see over 200 businesses head to Shanghai, China in October this year, flying direct from Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport on what will be the first international passenger flight from the airport.

Now in its third year, the highly successful conference will be hosted as a key stream within the AccessChina’16 conference day that forms a crucial part of the delegation's program.

TSBE chief executive officer Dr Ben Lyons said taking the conference to China would give businesses a first-hand look of the enormity of opportunity this powerhouse market represents.

“We know that there are major opportunities for Australian food and agriculture businesses in terms of export to China, and we know that the Chinese are looking to Australia as their preferred supplier for safe, clean and green produce,” Dr Lyons said.

“And these opportunities are only broadened by the recently introduced China-Australia Free Trade Agreement.

“The AccessChina'16 delegation and Ag in Asia Conference stream will give businesses the chance to see for themselves first-hand the opportunities in China, and hear from Chinese businesses who are looking to engage with their products and also other Australian success stories who have already cracked the market."

The one-day conference stream will focus on macro consumption trends in China, the impact of consumer preferences on export opportunities for food and luxury items and supply chain integrity and logistics considerations.

A number of global business and industry leaders working in the Chinese and Asian markets have already been secured as guest speakers for the conference.

In a significant coup for the conference, Meat and Livestock Australia’s general manager of international markets, Michael Finucan, will give his insights on the macro picture of the current Chinese market.

In a recently released report by Sinorbis, predictions suggest that by 2020, 81 per cent of urban Chinese consumption growth is predicted to come from upper-middle class households, with annual disposable incomes to reach between A$31,850 and A$60,532.

Affluent households will see their disposable income grow to more than A$60,526.

Additional locked in speakers include a representative from Australia Post’s JV Saicheng and Weber Shandwick China’s president, Darren Burns.

Weber Shandwick are the public relations risk management firm who handled the infamous McDonald’s beef contamination scandal in China.

With consumer insights a key aspect of the conference, representatives from Bon App, China’s most popular bilingual peer-to-peer restaurant critique start-up, consumer trends specialists China Skinny and Incite China, and China’s second largest online-to-offline food ordering market, Ele.me! will also speak.

“We are really excited about the program that we have put together for this highly unique event,” Dr Lyons said.

“It’s not often that you see China’s most popular peer-to-peer App, China’s most popular food delivery App, the two leading Chinese consumer trends specialists and Australia Post’s China-side logistics operator all in the one room,” Dr Lyons said.

Following the Ag in Asia Conference, guests will attend a targeted business matching session with interested Chinese companies looking to engage with Australia.

The Ag in Asia conference is one of three streams of sessions that will be held on day one of the Access China delegation. Other sessions will focus on opportunities in the health and aged care, tourism, manufacturing and sustainable design, mining and resources, and education sectors.