Citrus Australia will use a $485,711 grant from the federal government to increase citrus export opportunities to India for Australian growers, through targeted development of the Indian market.
The Australian citrus industry currently exports up to $540 million worth of citrus around the world. India and the subcontinent have been recognized as potential growth markets. India has a population of 1.3 billon people, with 24% classified as middle-income or higher.
Citrus Australia CEO Nathan Hancock said there are considerable challenges to increasing exports to India. He added that dedicated resources are required to gain a better understanding of the market and build and maintain relationships. “Work conducted by Citrus Australia through this project over the next two years will put the foundations in place to grow exports of class-1 Australian citrus to as much as 30,000 tonnes by 2030,” he stated. Citrus Australia aims to develop a market for navel oranges and Afourer and Murcott mandarins.
Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia David Littleproud said the Citrus Australia project would help Australia growers to target high-value niche markets in India. “This Agricultural Trade and Market Access Cooperation grant to Citrus Australia is a great help for our citrus growers to diversify their market and grow their businesses,” Littleproud said.
Citrus Australia’s effort will include detailed research into the Indian market, relationship building, and conducting study tours and inward trade missions with Australian citrus businesses.
“This project will enable us to increase our knowledge on how to deliver this fruit to the rising higher-income demographic of India and build the resources and relationships to do so long-term,” Hancock said.
Citrus Australia has appointed Claire Fitchett as a market development manager to lead the project. In the last decade, Fitchett has worked for Apple and Pear Australia Ltd as market development manager before moving to Australia’s largest pome and stone fruit marketer (Montague) as international strategy manager.
Australia and India recently reached an interim outcome in free trade agreement negotiations that will reduce tariffs on Australian citrus exports by 50%; learn more here.
Source: Citrus Australia
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