By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
A new export program aims to open up multi-million dollar opportunities to take Geelong food and beverage products to the world.
Ship to Shed was specifically developed for local businesses by CVEN, a team of international trade specialists with more than 30 years’ experience.
CVEN co-director Kerry-Anne Jones said the program would give Geelong exporters a major boost.
Ms Jones said the program was the first to receive collaboration from 11 Greater Geelong councils, business and tourism associations.
Melbourne based CVEN recently opened a Geelong office to run Ship to Shed, she said.
“CVEN’s track record includes achieving over $6 million in sales to over 30 countries for clients over the past four years,” Ms Jones said.
“We aim to emulate these successes for more businesses based in the Greater Geelong region.
“The potential for Geelong’s food and beverage growers and manufacturers to secure new markets overseas motivated us to go to the Federal Government with a project plan to provide these businesses with the tools they need to make it happen.
“We are not interested in one-off orders; we focus on sustainable, long-term, mutually beneficial export relationships.”
Ms Jones said export assistance initiatives often focussed on “jumping on a plane” to a potential export market, meeting some buyers on the ground, then heading home to wait for the big order that, unfortunately, in many cases never came.
“In fact, many small to medium sized businesses have an export horror story to tell.
“There really are a myriad of export programs on offer. Before working with us, one of our clients agreed to participate in one of these ‘delegations’. He achieved no sales and learnt nothing.
“No one assisted him with his pricing, logistics or documentation and the exercise put him $6000 out of pocket.
“This is the exact opposite of what Shed to Ship is all about.”
The Shed to Ship program aimed to build skills, knowledge and confidence in export, develop practical customised strategies, establish networks and maximise access to grants and subsidies.
Ms Jones said the program would play a part in helping the region’s growing reputation as an internationally recognised “one-stop-shop” for quality food and beverage products.
A Federal Government Package Assisting Small Exporters grant enabled the program to be offered at rates about 85 per cent less than commercial fees.
G21 Regional Alliance head Elaine Carbines said the region’s food and beverage producers and manufacturers made world-beating products.
“It’s high time we saw a program like Shed to Ship become available to our region to assist these businesses to get their products into international markets and effectively grow the economic pie for the whole region,” Ms Carbines said.
Shed to Ship program facilitator Lena Neill can be contacted on lena@cven.com.au or on 0426 984 394.
