Victoria’s government believes new infrastructure will help increase overseas export volumes, with a new report suggesting the Murray Basin Rail project as one potential example.
State agriculture minister Jaala Pulford says infrastructure will be crucial in her state maintaining and building upon current export volumes.
Pulford recently released Victoria’s latest food and fibre export performance report, with total food and fibre exports valued at $11.6bn, a rise of $282m from the previous financial year.
“To fully realise the opportunities that the forecast global food boom presents, we also need to make sure our products can get to where they’re wanted in peak condition,” the minister said in a statement.
“Part of the story is about transport infrastructure, which is why the Victorian Government is making significant investments to fix regional rail and upgrade freight corridors across the state, so businesses can get their goods to market efficiently.”
The Murray Basin Rail project was cited as an example.
Pulford also talked of maintaining and expanding access to international markets with more resources aimed at enhancing Victoria’s biosecurity system and protecting production systems.
Grains were big export earner for the state, worth $1.4 billion in 2014–15, despite a significant dip in the 2014 Victorian grain harvest due to a poor late winter and spring in the north-west of the state.
Acting Premier and employment minister Jacinta Allan said recent trade figures showed the strong contribution primary producers made towards Victoria’s economy.
“Our state’s ongoing prosperity relies on their hard work, resilience and entrepreneurial spirit,” he said. “The Andrews Labor Government will never rest on its laurels and that’s why we will continue to make the investments our primary producers need, so that Victorian food and fibre remains number one.”
“We’re putting agriculture at the heart of Victoria’s economic development so that our farmers and industries can grow and prosper from paddock to port.”
This article is from Rail Express affiliate Lloyd’s List Australia.
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