Business SA’s Migration for Business Growth program hosted the recent Gateway to Asia Exporters Expo, aimed at assisting local businesses to enter and expand into Asia.
Twenty four local businesses displayed and sampled their products to over 150 potential export partners from China.
The majority of visitors to the expo were recently arrived members of the Migration for Business Growth program, a particularly relevant audience for exhibitors because they are seeking local products to export back to their country of origin or investment opportunities in a local business.
Business SA Chief Executive Officer, Peter Vaughan, said that the expo addressed many challenges that local businesses face in the export market.
“The expo assisted in overcoming many hurdles by connecting businesses with export partners who speak the language, are experienced and reputable business owners, and who already have established business channels in Asia,” Mr Vaughan said.
“The expo brought together two groups from diverse backgrounds - but both intent on the common goal of growing South Australian exports.
“There needs to be more encouragement and assistance for businesses to develop an export focus and overcome any challenges rather than relying solely on domestic and interstate markets.
“This expo is of particular value for small to medium sized member businesses in the early stages of developing their Asian export markets."
Feedback from exhibitors was extremely positive, especially from businesses poised to make their first forays into the Asian market who were previously concerned about issues such as credible distribution channels, realistic volumes and payment security.
Spring Gully Foods was one company which has been working to grow their small presence in the Asian market having overcome initial problems with export documentation for their honey lines.
Spring Gully’s Tegan Webb commented, “We are trying to expand our range into smaller retailers and within a week of the Expo I have already had follow-up communication and meetings with business migrant contacts.”
Virginia Beal, Sales & Marketing Manager of Fruit Dehydrators Australia, said her business is also on the brink of expanding into China having recently confirmed their first order of 100% natural fruit wraps.
“We have new contacts to follow up from the Gateway to Asia Expo and found the provision of an interpreter on the day was invaluable. Without an interpreter it would have been very difficult to make the initial contact and now our job is to follow up these leads to achieve new orders,” she said.
The majority of visitors to the expo were new business migrants seeking local products to export back to their country of origin, or those seeking investment opportunities in a local business.
Visitors also included 70 Chinese business people on an exploratory trip to South Australia hosted by Immigration SA.
Expo exhibitor Laucke Flour Mills, has yet to crack the Chinese market and Darren Curnow, National Retail Manager, said the expo was valuable for their company
“The market for Western style breads in China is becoming more established and we certainly found visitors we spoke to were very interested in our flour products and of a high quality,” Darren said.
“We currently export to the UK, New Zealand and Singapore, and are focused on pursuing the leads we made at the expo so we can gain our first foothold in the Chinese market.”
This is the third expo organised by the Migration for Business Growth program and for the first time exhibitors included trade service businesses such as freight companies and export consultants.
If you are interested in hearing about the next Exporters Expo in the second half of 2010, email trade@business-sa.com.
The Migration for Business Growth program is supported by Business SA and DTED-Immigration SA.
