Queensland’s premium beef sizzles in Vietnam

Great-tasting Queensland beef was served to some of Vietnam’s leading food and beverage importers and distributors at a Taste of Queensland networking event in Ho Chi Minh City last night.

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said a three-day trade mission to Vietnam this week was an opportunity to increase Queensland agricultural exports and support good jobs in the agriculture sector at home.

“Getting premium quality Queensland produce in front of this audience is an important step towards increasing our exports to Vietnam and helping to create good jobs at home,” Mr Furner said.

“I’m encouraged by the warm reception of our Vietnamese hosts and hopeful that the event would lead to more exports of Queensland produce to the sophisticated and growing Vietnamese market.”

At the event, Mr Furner also welcomed the establishment of a Trade and Investment Queensland office in Ho Chi Minh City.

As well as Stockyard beef, products featured last night included Borrowdale pork, pizza bases from Sugo Tu Sour Dough; cheese from Dairy Free Down Under, finger lime pearls from the Lime Caviar company and soft drinks from Bundaberg Brewed Drinks.   

Tom Calder, Trade and Investment Commissioner, ASEAN said the networking event celebrated the opening of Trade and Investment Queensland’s first office in Vietnam.

“It is a great way to introduce Queensland agri-food to this significant emerging market while Minister Furner is here to speak directly with importers, retailers and Government representatives,” Mr Calder said.

“In 2020-21, Vietnam was Queensland’s fifth-largest agricultural export market, with exports valued at more than $500 million, a 21 per cent increase from 2019-20.

“We have some of the best premium food products in Queensland and consumers in Vietnam are demanding more of what we produce, especially our meat. In 2020-21, exports of meat to Vietnam totalled $113 million.”  

Apart from Stockyard beef, other products featured last night included; Borrowdale pork; Ironbark Citrus mandarins, pizza bases from Sugo Tu Sour Dough; cheese from Dairy Free Down Under, finger lime pearls from the Lime Caviar company and ginger beer from Bundaberg Brewed Drinks.   

The Queensland Government is committed to supporting increased exports of high-quality, sustainably produced food and drinks to Vietnam.

ENDS

NOTE: The Honourable Mark Furner MP Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Minister for Rural Communities is undertaking a three-day Trade and Investment Mission to Vietnam – August 24-26 August, 2022.

Media contact:           Ron Goodman            0427 781 920

Images of the Taste of Queensland event can be downloaded from this link:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/he8ugov3z6qp8gq/AABA0D0RvHVnK5wO855fC1lKa?dl=0