Australian food and beverage exports promoted in Shanghai

Five City Supermarket stores across Shanghai are staging "Flavours of Australia " the Australian Food & Beverage Festival' from 20 October - 5 November, part of the broader Celebrate Australia, Australian Style package of events organised by Austrade and the Australian Consulate General.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Teresa Gambaro, visited a City Supermarket chain store in Shanghai to promote Australian food and beverages.

Gambaro met the president and owner of the Shanghai City Supermarket chain Cui Yixiong at his Bin Jiang store in the Pudong area of Shanghai. The chain supplies local and imported product to Shanghai's growing middle class and large expatriate community.

"I'm pleased to see Australian products being promoted extensively in Shanghai, and congratulate Mr Cui and City Supermarkets for their Australian food and beverage festival," Gambaro said.

"Australian government and business have worked together to promote the export of fresh, organic and processed products to China, across most sectors. Australia and China are negotiating a Free Trade Agreement which has the potential to enhance our trade relationship in fresh and processed food and beverages, as well as other key sectors."

Austrade's Shanghai-based Senior Trade Commissioner, Christopher Wright said the range of Australian products available for sale in China and the number and diversity of Australian suppliers seeking Chinese partners and buyers is growing every day.

In addition to the City Supermarket festival, as part of the Celebrate Australia events, Australian food and beverages are being promoted at restaurants and bars in the chic Xintiandi precinct of Shanghai to showcase Australian wine, cheese, meat and other fine produce. Cooking demonstrations and tastings of modern Australian cuisine will be a feature at an "Australian Open House', led by Australian chef Steve Baker.

At the same time, the Australian Ballet will perform its acclaimed production of Swan Lake at Shanghai's Grand Theatre and top Australian design will be on display as Australia takes a night of the Shanghai Fashion Week.

Gambaro said that the Celebrate Australia, Australian Style week of events would provide local residents and business people a chance to experience the best of Australian lifestyle, fashion, cultural performances, cuisine and business in Shanghai.