October 16, 2009
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has today held a critical meeting with the Russian Government to help boost the State's vital meat exports.
Bligh met with Russia's Acting Minister for Agriculture Oleg Aldoshin and other Government officials to help improve demand for Queensland's meat in Russia.
The meeting comes in the wake of Russia's recent ban on imports of Queensland kangaroo products.
"Queensland's capacity for exporting a reliable supply of safe, high quality meat is second to none and meat production and export is very important for our State's economy," Bligh says.
"From $32 million in 2004-05, Queensland's meat exports to Russia have increased dramatically over four years,” she says.
"They are now valued at $124 million, making up more than 20 per cent of the total value of our state's merchandise exports to this country. Russia is now our State's fourth largest beef export market.”
Bligh says today’s meeting was critical in buoying confidence for such a vital export sector.
"I understand the Russian Government has serious concerns and we want them to have confidence that we are taking their concerns seriously,” she says.
"It is essential that we address the issues they have raised so we can secure this important export partnership again."
The Premier also met with Queensland participants in the Golden Autumn Agricultural Exhibition held in Moscow from October 9 to 13, to receive a briefing on potential market opportunities in Russia for Queensland's agricultural products and support industries.
"This meeting further confirmed the potential in Russia for our food products which clearly reflects Queensland's strong and growing reputation as a reliable and safe exporter of food globally,” Bligh says.
"Russians expect the best quality, safe, clean food product from their overseas trading partners and I took the opportunity today to assure the Russian Government that Queensland will look closely at their concerns,” she says.
"This commitment to quality is monitored under the close eye of the State's food safety watchdog agency, Safe Food Production Queensland."
Bligh also invited the Acting Minister to visit Queensland to see first hand the state's strong capabilities in meat production and agriculture.
The Premier is currently leading a trade mission to India, the UAE and Russia concluding on October 18.