Australia’s trade and tourism minister, Senator Don Farrell, and several other government officials descended on Treasury Wine Estates’ (TWE) Shanghai office to discuss ways to build greater cooperation between Australian and Chinese wine industries. The visit comes six months after China lifted heavy tariffs it had imposed in 2020.
One of the topics discussed was an upcoming China – Australia winemaker talent development and exchange program. In September, the China Alcoholic Drinks Association (CADA) and Australian Grape and Wine (AGW) signed an MoU on their commitment to the scheme.
Its goal is to “cultivate talent and drive continuous progress, knowledge exchange and cooperation between the Australian and Chinese wine industries”.
TWE pioneered the initiative with CADA, AGW, which has been backed by government, industry and academic institutions in both countries including the South Australian government and Chinese food and agriculture company, COFCO, as TWE’s strategic partner.
Penfolds managing director, Tom King, in Shanghai for the visit, said TWE was proud to see the progress and ongoing development between the two countries.
“TWE has an outstanding team here in China, and we’re proud to contribute to the local wine and viticulture industry and look forward to developing this further by sharing knowledge and cultivating talent,” King said.
It’s an important week for TWE in China, with China International Import Expo (CIIE) underway. CIIE is a platform for trade, investment, and global co-operation, creating a major opportunity for companies like TWE to engage with local government, industry, suppliers, partners, and customers.
