Taste the Wonders of Australia

The Australian Food and Wine Collaboration Group came together to showcase “Taste the Wonders of Australia” in Kuala Lumpur recently. The Group, comprising Hort Innovation Australia, Dairy Australia, Meat & Livestock Australia, Seafood Industry Australia and Wine Australia, initiated a strategic, concerted effort to advance bilateral trade and improve market access for Australian food and wine producers. 

A series of interactive workshops and tastings with well-known chefs, wine and industry experts included: – 

• Understanding Australian Dairy – Cream Cheese and Yogurt 
• Australia’s Premium Horticulture 
• Australia’s Seafood Industry: A Sustainable Future 
• Classic and Contemporary Australian Wines 
• Aussie Beef and Lamb: Latest Trends and Insights 

“Taste the Wonders of Australia” coincided with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Malaysia. Malaysia is Australia’s 11th largest trading partner for Australian agriculture in 2024-25 with exports worth AUD1.8 billion. 

With Malaysia’s rising affluence, a growing middle class and increasing demand for premium imported goods, the market presents strong potential for growth across Australia’s food and wine sectors. According to Hort Innovation Australia’s Dr Mila Bristow, said the programme is beneficial to Australian government agencies and in-market trade and food industries, who can engage with Australian food, wine and agriculture working as one united group. 

“We are committed to presenting the full spectrum of Australian food and wine as one cohesive entity to enhance trust and transparency with our trading partners. And by prioritising collaboration and shared outcomes, we strengthen the foundation for sustained trade relationships.” 

He added that it was a good opportunity to thank the market, and build long-term relationships. Over the past three years, the Collaboration Group has held market activations in Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, Taiwan and Japan, and met with more than 1,200 trade and government representatives, leveraging the individual sectors’ export strengths to deepen industry and government networks, advance bilateral trade and improve market access.

Meat & Livestock Australia Regional Manager for Southeast Asia Valeska said: “Malaysia is one of Australia’s most important trade partners for Australian red meat. With Malaysians consuming the highest per capita beef and lamb in Southeast Asia, Australian beef and lamb are well-positioned to meet this demand. Looking ahead, our goal is to deepen trade relationships, expand awareness of our high-quality, halal-certified products and support Malaysia’s evolving foodservice and retail sectors with consistent, trusted supply.” 

Chief Executive Officer of Seafood Industry Australia, Veronica Papacosta added: “Malaysia is a growing destination for Australia’s premium seafood exports. The Food and Wine Collaboration Group offers the opportunity to showcase Australia’s high-quality seafood, developing awareness of our unique products and their compatibility with Malaysian cuisine. E-commerce channels, including live broadcast sales, have emerged as an important channel for reaching Malaysia’s increasingly tech-savvy and affluent consumers.” 

Dairy Australia Sustainable International Trade Senior Manager Catherine Taylor said: “While the global dairy environment reflects an increasingly volatile trade environment, Malaysia is a close neighbour and an important market for Australian dairy products. We are delighted that our Scholarship Programme, which includes key Malaysian dairy companies, is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2025. We are confident that we will be able to support Malaysia’s growing need for dairy in the future.”

Wine Australia General Manager Market Development Paul Turale said: “As Australia’s 10th largest market for wine exports by value and the third largest in Southeast Asia, Malaysia represents an important growth opportunity for Australian wine. In the 12 months ended June 2025, 131 Australian wineries exported a combined 2.7 million litres of premium wine to Malaysia worth AUD42.4million. With our geographic advantage in terms of supply, we look forward to continuing to build on the awareness and affinity for Australian wine in Malaysia to support a sustainable and prosperous market for our Australian exporters.” 

During the wine seminar which talked about popular Australian wines, Singaporean specialist Lim Hwee Peng shared about classic wines coming from Down Under such as riesling and chardonay, and reds like grenache, pinot noir and shiraz. It was an enlightening session, especially with Malaysians who are more familiar with new world wines.