THE South Australian government is organising the Gourmet South Australia food fair to provide Malaysians with a taste of what South Australia has to offer.
Supported by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission and the Australian High Commission in Malaysia, the food fair is the first of its kind to reach local shores and is part of the South Australian government’s ‘New to Market Retail Programme’ that aims to bridge the gap for the state’s food and beverage (F&B) products to penetrate the Malaysian market.
In an email interview with FocusM, South Australian Minister for Trade and Investment Stephen Patterson explained that Malaysia’s relatively young demographic makes the country a great place for South Australia to share its premium products.
He also mentioned that Gourmet South Australia will be offering delivery services to Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Selangor and Penang.
“With strong people-to-people links and a sister city relationship between Adelaide and Georgetown in Penang, there is an opportunity for South Australian food and beverage producers to grow those linkages further through the supply of premium quality produce,” he said.
Sustainable methods for clean and safe food products
Discerned customers can rest assure that Gourmet South Australia products are produced in a clean, green and sustainable environment, with many of the brands participating in the fair being family-founded and pride themselves on producing quality products.
According to Patterson, the South Australian government has even banned plastic packaging for take-away products and food service within the state, looking to one day phase out single-use plastics altogether.
Additionally, the minister pointed out that the South Australian government has a variety of programmes to ensure that the exporters are ‘halal-ready’ and its in-market representative can also advice the exports so that they are informed and can better provide safe products for all to enjoy.
Limited-time delight
While the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected international trade all around the world, the South Australian government has been working closely with the Australian government to ensure the food exporters can continue reaching out to international markets.
“South Australia has been incredibly resilient during the global health pandemic. Due to tight border controls and strong health regulations, the sector has been able to operate and continue production and trading, relatively successfully, within extraordinary circumstances,” Patterson explained.
Having endured numerous efforts to make their way into Malaysia, a total of 14 brands will be introducing its presence in the local market for the first time, offering premium selection of F&B products such as raw honey, cooking ingredients, organic vegetables and even fresh seafood.
Gourmet South Australia will be exclusively available at Isetan KLCC and Isetan Lot 10 from Sept 23 to Oct 5, along with AEON One Utama, AEON Bukit Tinggi and AEON Queensbay Mall from Sept 23 to Oct 6. – Sept 30, 2021
