NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIAN EXPORTERS IN ASIA

By Neville D'Cruz

MELBOURNE, June 11 (Bernama) -- Australia's Trade Minister Simon Crean
Wednesday released analysis highlighting major new opportunities for Western
Australian exporters in Southeast Asia.

West Australia exported A$7.2 billion worth of merchandise to the 10 Asean
countries last year, he said in a statement.

"The start of the Asean-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area this year
has ushered in phased tariff cuts which will deliver new prospects for Western
Australian exporters.

"Now is the time for Western Australian companies and producers to grab
their share of action in Southeast Asia.

"Asia is the fastest-growing region in the world, but the growth is not
confined to China and Japan -- Western Australia's two biggest export markets.

"Asean is Western Australia's fifth largest export market for goods and
represents nine per cent of total state merchandise exports.

"Across Asean, there are potential export gains in a wide range of sectors
crucial to Western Australia. These include crude oil, wheat, malt, live cattle,
meat, wine, seafood, steel and aluminium.

"This is a great opportunity and I urge Western Australian companies to
engage with Austrade to assess their export prospects in Asean -- a market
of 600 million people, with a combined GDP of A$3.2 trillion," he added.
-- BERNAMA