Summer 2022 Update
| The trade team from the Victorian Government Trade and Investment (VGTI) Office in Shanghai supported 30 Victorian companies at the 2021 China International Import Expo (CIIE) from 5-10 November 2021. |  |
The VGTI team established a Victorian Pavilion at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) Food & Agricultural Hall which hosted over 30 cooking and product demonstrations featuring companies such as Bulla Dairy, Laurent Bakery, Simplot, Deliciou, Mastlink, and Rathbone Wine Group.
Representatives of these companies introduced Victorian food and beverage products to Chinese buyers in the Victorian Pavilion and in the wider Food and Agricultural Hall.
Other Victorian food and agricultural companies at the Pavilion included:
- Australian Premium Dried Fruits
- Bio-E
- Brown Brothers
- Chobani
- Coles
- De Bortoli Wines
- Fonterra
- Freedom Foods (Shepparton)
- Murray River Organics
- Riversdale Fine Wines
- ViPlus Dairy
- Yumbah Aquaculture
Over 17.5 million Chinese viewers watched two live-streaming sessions from the Pavilion.
In one of the sessions, a Key Opinion Leader (KOL) walked through the Pavilion and interviewed the 30 Victorian companies, and in another session, over 20 Victorian companies spoke in-depth about their products.
The Vice Mayor of Shanghai, Madame Zong visited the Victorian Pavilion and was briefed about Victoria’s export capabilities by Brett Stevens, the State Government of Victoria's Commissioner to China.
Following up on the CIIE, on 1 December, the China VGTI team hosted an Open Day at Vic House, the Victorian Agricultural Trade Pavilion, for Chinese buyers to engage with Victorian companies and products.
Previous updates
Winter 2021
In 2021, Global Victoria and the Victorian Government Trade and Investment offices in China supported Victorian businesses to participate in virtual trade shows in China to promote their exports.
The Hainan Consumer Products Expo
The Hainan Consumer Products Expo was held in Haikou, Hainan Province on 6 May 2021.
Victorian businesses were business matched with Guangdong and Hainan food importers. A livestreaming program with Chinese on-line key opinion leaders promoted Victorian brands at the Expo. Coles, Murray River Organics and ViPlus Dairy were some of the Victorian exporters who attended the Expo.
The China International Beauty Expo was held in Shanghai in May 2021.
Our team from the VGTI offices in China helped Victorian beauty product exporters access a livestreaming program to boost their exposure to industry buyers and influencers. Victorian companies participating in the Expo included: Vitality Brands, Total Beauty Network, DPP Pharmaceuticals (Goat Soap), Nativebliss, and Bio-E.
ChinaBio Networking Forum
The ChinaBio Networking Forum was held in Shanghai in May 2021.
Our team from the VGTI offices in China created business matching opportunities for Victorian participants to meet virtually with Chinese counterparts to discuss business opportunities. Victorian participants included: 360biolabs, the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cancer Trials Australia, and St Vincent's Hospital.
SIAL China Food Expo
SIAL China Food Expo was held in Shanghai in May 2021.
Our team from the VGTI offices in China established a Victorian booth at the Expo which was attended by over 146,000 food industry professionals. A tasting program of Victorian food attracted significant interest from Chinese buyers.
Global Victoria hosted a Victorian exhibitor and Chinese buyers networking dinner during the event to further promote export sales. Victorian delegates at SIAL China included: Annex Food, Bulla Dairy, Coles, Dairy Farmers, Four Pillars , CAPI, Laurent Bakery, Select Harvests, and Yumbah Abalone.
On the horizon
The fourth China International Import Expo (CIIE) will be held in Shanghai from 5-10 November 2021. In 2020, Global Victoria hosted a Victorian Pavilion for 28 Victorian companies.
Most of the Victorian exhibitors were from food and beverage, health and nutrtion, cosmetics and beauty product industries.
Victorian exporters are welcome to join the Victorian presence at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai in November 2021. Head to our Virtual Trade Mission page to find out more.
Summer 2021 Update
In July 2020, Brett Stevens was appointed the new Commissioner for Victoria to Greater China.
From the head office in Shanghai, Brett will work to advance Victoria’s trade and investment interests in China through five Victorian Government Trade and Investment offices (Shanghai, Beijing, Nanjing, Chengdu and Hong Kong).
Brett served as Victoria’s Commissioner to Southeast Asia from 2013 to 2020.
He has over 25 years of international trade experience in Asia in both the public and private sectors. With an extensive background in agribusiness project management in Australia and Asia, Brett has a practical understanding of developing business opportunities and brings a strong commercial perspective to the role of Commissioner.
Brett’s immediate priorities in the role include:
- delivering virtual and digital engagements with key Chinese partners in trade, investment and education
- leveraging government relationships, including Sister-State relationships with Jiangsu and Sichuan to achieve tangible commercial outcomes
- expanding Victoria’s engagement to new priority regions in China.
Brett summarised the challenges and opportunities facing Victorian businesses in China:
“We recognise the challenges that coronavirus (COVID-19) presents to Victorian businesses operating globally.
To help deal with these challenges, the Victorian Government has released an Export Recovery Package to address logistics and supply chain issues caused by the pandemic, and establish new export channels. Businesses will be connected to international markets through virtual trade missions to connect with Chinese buyers of Victorian goods virtually, as well as assistance to adapt their export strategies to respond to the rapidly changing global market.
Our whole team here in China is already helping Victorian businesses renew and expand exports and drive job growth in Victoria. But it is vital that we identify and capitalise on the opportunities that this period of turbulence brings.
eCommerce has been super-charged by this crisis and opportunities to operate virtually could lead to real growth opportunities and lower costs for Victorian businesses.
This is a fascinating time and already opportunities are presenting themselves for Victorian businesses. I and the whole team here in China are ready to help them get exports moving to China.”
In-Market Insights video series
In-Market Insights is a series of videos presented by Global Victoria's team members from across its international network of 23 Victorian Government Trade and Investment offices (VGTIs). The series will shed light on the current state of play in key global markets and sectors.
CHINA - Health and Wellbeing October 2020
Episode 24 features Global Victoria's Michael Baird - Strategic Advisor, and Michael Zhang - Senior Trade Manager from our Trade and Investment (VGTI) office in Shanghai, China. They share insights on emerging opportunities for Victorian food, and health and wellness businesses looking to engage with the region.
VIDEO: CHINA - Health and Wellbeing October 2020
CHINA - Education June 2020
Qian Li, Global Victoria’s Education Services Manager from our Beijing Victorian Government Trade and Investment (VGTI) office in Beijing shares her expertise on emerging opportunities in China for Victorian education providers.
VIDEO: Global Victoria's In-market Insights - CHINA Education June 2020
CHINA May 2020
In this episode, Global Victoria’s Deputy Commissioner to China, Lisa Renkin – based in Chengdu – shares her expert knowledge about emerging opportunities in China for Victorian businesses.
VIDEO: Global Victoria's In-market Insights - CHINA May 2020
Victoria's China Strategy
Victoria's China Strategy provides a plan to support economic growth in Victoria and in China, and deepen our understanding of each others' people and culture. It set four ambitious ten-year targets from 2016 to 2026, across trade, investment, visitors and students.
In the first 2 years, 2 of the 4 key targets have already been exceeded. Victoria has received more investment and more postgraduate students from China than the established targets. We're on track to surpass all targets by 2026.
The 2018 progress report highlights the achievements and successes since the initial strategy was launched.
The progress report also highlights the strength of our cultural ties and people-to-people links, showcasing our shared success in education, government and cultural collaboration, and how we are achieving our vision of becoming Australia's gateway to Asia.
Read Victoria's China Strategy
Serious about exporting?
Whether you’re a Victorian business looking at entering new markets, expanding into additional markets, or taking on more challenging high-growth markets, our free online self-assessment tool, Go Global will show you how to get there.
Through a series of export-focused questions, Go Global works by measuring your business’s capability and capacity in nine key areas. Nominate yourself and up to five key stakeholders from your business to take part in the self-assessment to receive a holistic overview of your business's export-readiness.
Once all nominees have completed their self-assessments, you'll receive a comprehensive report highlighting your business's strengths and capabilties, and recommended next steps to help you go global.
Go Global is a useful tool for the development or refinement of your market entry strategy:
- Identifying strengths
- Identify gaps in capabilities
- Recommending the next steps to bridge those gaps and support your export journey.
