Grain Producers Australia was honoured to meet with India’s Minister for Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, and Australia’s Trade, Tourism and Investment Minister, Dan Tehan MP, to represent the views of Australian growers and discuss opportunities with grain trade to India.
GPA Chair, Barry Large, joined a round-table involving key agriculture and mining stakeholders who met with Minister Tehan and Minister Goyal and his negotiating team, in WA on Friday.
This event was hosted by WA grain producer and Liberal MP for O’Connor, Rick Wilson, and also supported by WA Liberal MP for Forrest and Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Territories, Nola Marino.
The round-table coincided with the India and WA Economic Cooperation lunch, to celebrate the recent signing of the interim India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (IA-ECTA).
Caption: India’s Minister for Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal (left), Australia’s Trade, Tourism and Investment Minister, Dan Tehan MP and Grain Producers Australia Chair, and WA grain producer, Barry Large.
This historic agreement opens up an extraordinary opportunity for primary producers, miners and education institutions to access 1.35 billion new consumers.
Leaders from both countries expect IA-ECTA will see two-way trade between our nations doubled; going from the existing $27 billion to nearly $45 to $50 billion over the next five years.
Round-table guests included representatives from the grain, wool, sheep meat and mining industries. WAFarmers President and local grain producer, John Hassell, was also in attendance, with Mr Large. The WAFarmers Grains Council is also one of GPA’s State Members, representing their members’ views on national policy and advocacy, through GPA’s Policy Council.
Mr Large said it was a great opportunity to meet with the Senior Ministers involved in the negotiations, thanks to Mr Wilson hosting the round-table.
He said he was able to directly discuss the importance of enhanced market access for Australian grain producers, to help realise significant potential benefits for local growers, and Indian consumers, as part of the market’s growth.
WAFarmers President John Hassell (left), WA Liberal MP for Forrest and Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Territories, Nola Marino, India’s Minister for Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, WA Liberal MP for O’Connor, Rick Wilson, Federal Trade, Tourism and Investment Minister, Dan Tehan MP and Grain Producers Australia Chair, and WA grain producer, Barry Large.