MEDIA RELEASE
2 February 2007
For immediate release
AUSTRALIAN WINE AND CHEESE ON SHOW
Members of the business community attended a wine and cheese tasting evening at the Australian High Commission yesterday as part of the Australia Week program.
Around 100 invited guests attended the event, which was organised by the Australian Government through its Trade Commission (Austrade) and Garamut Enterprises, the owner of the Boroko Foodworld supermarket.
The Australian High Commissioner, His Excellency Mr Chris Moraitis, said that the event highlighted the strong bilateral trade relationship between Australia and PNG.
Speaking at the event he said: “The Wine and Cheese Tasting Evening is another example of Australia-PNG bilateral trade in action.
“Australia values its trade relationship with PNG and in particular the captains of trade in the PNG business community who make this happen.”
Mr Moraitis said that the Australian wine industry had grown considerably in recent years and was now valued at $5.5 billion, making Australia the world's fifth largest wine producer behind France, Italy, Spain and the USA.
He said: “Australian wine producers export to over 100 countries - including Papua New Guinea – and export volume is growing at 8-10% per year. Total exports of wine to PNG for 2006 were valued at $2.1 million.”
The event featured a selection of reds and whites from the Jacob’s Creek stable of wines as well as a range of fine Australian cheeses and snack products.
Australia Week, which ends today, aims to promote Australia and highlight the strong relationship between Australia and PNG, including the strong trade relationship.
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