Australian meat firms urged to expand into RI

Australian meat firms urged to expand into RI

GOLD COAST (Reuter): The Australian Meat Council (AMC) urged
yesterday red meat exporters to exploit the "unlimited potential"
of emerging markets in Indonesia and Malaysia while consolidating
their traditional dominance in Japan and South Korea.

"Australian meat exporters are in an ideal position to
capitalize on (these) fast emerging markets," AMC chairman George
Gilbertson said.

"Our Asia-Pacific neighbors are recognized as areas of
unlimited potential for Australia's red meat industry," he said
in a keynote address to a meat industry conference.

High economic growth had seen changes in consumption patterns
emerging in the Asia-Pacific area with red meat likely to be one
of the benefactors, he said.

"The close proximity of the region also gives Australia a
competitive edge over other major suppliers as consumers progress
further in their demands for fresh product," he said.

Gilbertson said globalization of the red meat industry was one
of the industry's keys to survival.

"The Philippines, Indonesia, the Middle East and Eastern
Europe now play significant roles to many of our members who are
no longer content to merely service the large traditional markets
and buyers," he said.

Gilbertson also highlighted new food inspection methods now
adopted by the Australian meat industry together with a consumer
focus becoming evident at the retail level.

Australian Meat and Livestock Corp (AMLC) figures for 1996/97
produced for the conference showed Australia holding 21 percent
of the world's beef market with 59.7 percent of beef production
exported.