$3m to boost wine exports

The South West’s abundance of wineries and wine exporters will receive a boost, should the Labor Government be re-elected after the State election next month.

Labor has made a $3 million commitment over five years to support the industry and to make “export growth and market diversification a key focus area” for the industry, teaming up with the State’s peak industry body in doing so.

Minister for Regional Development Alannah MacTiernan said the funding would be put towards establishing a wine industry export growth partnership between Wines of WA and the State Government.

“Our State’s wine industry has shown great resilience over the past 12 months and has been proactively looking for ways to diversify export markets,” she said.

“The Wine Industry Export Growth Partnership is an opportunity for industry and government to work together and explore new export and domestic market opportunities for WA wines,” she said.

“Growing our wine industry will create local jobs in our wine-growing region, and will increasr awareness in key international markets of WA as a wine and food destination.

Wines of WA chief executive Larry Jorgensen said the body was consulted during the development of the program.

“Our industry plan is to double exports to $100m by 2026 and we have developed a collaborative five-year program to drive export market growth and diversification,” he said.

“Under the program, wine producers have committed $600,000 a year to collaboratively increase and diversify export markets.

“The WA wine industry contributes to the State economy through growing and wine-making, wine tourism and marketing activities creating regional jobs and growth.

“Every bottle of wine sold in an export market is a post card for WA as a great place to visit or live.”

The partnership is set to create about 600 jobs in regional WA.