Austrade’s Shanghai-based senior trade commissioner, Christopher Wright, said over the past five years many of Australia’s creative, artistic and lifestyle products and service exports to China have doubled and in some cases tripled.
“Exports of textiles, fabrics, personal, cultural and recreational services have doubled whereas jewellery, paintings, drawings art and student enrolments have tripled,” Wright said.
“China’s economy is becoming market based and is driving real incomes up, providing the catalyst for greater living standards and demand for consumer goods.
“Celebrate Australia is designed to allow visitors to experience Australia, while providing participating Australian businesses with an opportunity to make export sales and meet key contacts. It will promote Australia as an international innovator in fashion and design, textiles, food and beverage, education, tourism, lifestyle, business and performing arts/culture.
“Australia is sometimes perceived as being rustic yet beautiful, however Australians’ know it’s not all about football, meat pies, beautiful beaches and icons like the Opera House, it’s also a place of sophistication and fineries.
“This event, Celebrate Australia in Shanghai, will help Australian businesses get a foot-hold in the lucrative and growing consumer market in China,” he said.
According to the World Luxury Congress by 2008, 20 per cent of the world’s total luxury goods sales will be made in China.
Overall Australia’s exports to China have more than doubled in five years. For the financial year 2005-06 to April merchandise exports were valued at $14.4 billion compared to $6.3 billion for the same period in 2000-01.
Businesses urged to participate in the event include those that pride products or services related to textiles, fibres and yarns, fashion design, culture, cuisine, lifestyle, tourism and business services. If businesses are new to the China market, this is an excellent platform to get direct market feedback from public business visitors.
Set at Shanghai’s famous lifestyle, entertainment and boutique retail venue: Xintiandi, Celebrate Australia will feature a week long program of unique activities and promotions. Austrade’s promotion will include a stylish launch featuring Australian entertainment and group fashion parades. In addition, all participating businesses will be provided with their own Australian branded stand at the first ever Australian Street party (21 & 22 Oct), a market fair which will display promotional materials, product information, distribution or sales information.
