CANBERRA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Australia was bestowed with the title of "Country of Honor" at a leading Asia-Pacific wine and spirits trade show in Hong Kong on Wednesday.
More than 150 Australian winemakers, representing 225 brands, showcased their products at VinExpo Hong Kong, in China's special administrative region.
Wine Australia invested more than one million Australian dollars (760,000 US dollars) in the trade fair which helped the largest group of local winemakers to ever take part in an overseas event.
Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Anne Ruston, said in a statement the Turnbull government supported Australia's presence at Vinexpo through the 50 million Australian dollars (37.9 million US dollar) Export and Regional Wine Support Package.
The package is part of a three-year plan to increase the value of wine exports up to a record 3.5 billion Australian dollars (2.7 billion U.S. dollars) as Australia's global wine exports hit a decade-high.
"There were more than 150 Australian exhibitors representing 225 wine brands with rare exposure to over 15,000 importers, buyers and sommeliers from across the world," Ruston said on her website on Thursday.
"It was an invaluable opportunity to further enhance the reputation of Australian wines with key trading partners.
"The Government is undertaking a bold drive to grow exports of our high-quality agricultural products including wine to consumers around the Asia-Pacific and beyond.
"This benefits rural and regional Australia, and the more than 170,000 people employed in the wine sector across the nation."
Ruston, a South Australian MP, was Chief Executive of the National Wine Centre before entering parliament so has an intimate knowledge of the industry.
Australian exports to China, including Hong Kong and Macao, have increased by more than 51 percent since March 2017 to 1.04 billion Australian dollars (797 million U.S. dollars).
The agricultural trading relationship with Hong Kong SAR is expected to develop further as each government concludes the Australia-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement, designed to complement the FTA between Australia and China.
"I believe our wine trading relationships will continue to go from strength to strength, to the mutual benefit of farmers, producers and consumers around the Asia-Pacific," Ruston said in her statement.
"The wine industry has contributed to the creation of one million jobs in five years under the coalition."
Among other engagements, Minister Ruston held several bilateral discussions, joined an Australian marketing conference, presented at a University of Adelaide international collaboration and had meetings with key Australian exporters from across a range of agricultural fields.
Following the three-day exhibition which includes 26 masterclasses, more than 70 Australian wineries will undertake a four-city roadshow of China in conjunction with Wine Australia.
