Speeches
Thursday, 22 May 2025
Australian-Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce South Australian Wine Connect 2025
Good afternoon, and welcome.
I am delighted to be here in Ho Chi Minh City, and here today with the Australian Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce.
It is a delight to see our premium South Australian wineries represented in this historic city. Likewise, it is excellent to have South Australian producers engaging with Vietnam’s premier wine and trade representatives.
Congratulations to all South Australian wineries participating in this event today and the whole AVCC program, and for recognising the importance of the Vietnamese market.
I am also grateful to Tony Bui (Boo-ee), an active participant in the South Australian Wine Ambassadors Club, for his attendance today.
It is an honour to be here in Vietnam once again following my first official visit back in 2022. A focus of my visit was the wine industry then, as it is today.
South Australia enjoys a strong trade and investment relationship with Vietnam, and this continues to grow.
In the 12 months to March 2025, two-way trade between South Australia and Vietnam reached A$839.8 million – an increase of 12.2 per cent on the previous year.
And in the last year, Vietnam has moved up to sixth place in export value for South Australia.
Vietnam’s strong economic growth and expanding middle class is generating increased demand for premium food and beverages, and South Australia is well-positioned to meet this demand.
Our state is the undisputed jewel in the crown of Australia’s wine industry, with a global reputation as a leader in premium and luxury wine.
We boast 18 unique wine regions and more than 700 wineries producing a diverse range of premium-quality wines.
South Australia is one of the great Wine Capitals of the World, a global network that includes other renowned places like Bordeaux in France and the Napa Valley in the United States.
Wine is South Australia’s third largest export category; we produce 80 per cent of Australia’s premium wine and 50 per cent of all bottled wine.
The South Australian Government launched the Wine Export Diversification Program to help our local winemakers to get their products into new markets.
Central to this program is the South Australian Wine Ambassadors Club, which has been instrumental in drawing attention to our premium wines across key new markets in the Asia Pacific region.
The Club is a global network of wine advocates and importers who share a passion for South Australian wine, helping to promote and sell our state’s premium wines in their markets.
Since its launch in 2022, club ambassadors across eight chapters – including three in Vietnam – have helped 75 South Australian wine brands to break into six new markets, generating more than A$2.14 million in local sales.
I understand that a group of ambassadors recently participated in a wine familiarisation visit to South Australia, where they had the opportunity to visit renowned wine regions including Adelaide Hills, Clare Valley, McLaren Vale and the Barossa.
With Vietnamese consumers increasingly demanding high-quality, premium products, South Australia stands ready to do business with you.
Our reputation as a safe trading partner and a producer of fine wine, combined with South Australian Government support, makes our state a positive choice.
We also have a trade and investment office located in Singapore, which provides South Australian companies with in-market access and support across Southeast Asia.
Working in partnership with Austrade Vietnam, the office provides market research, business introductions and matching, and sponsoring company participation in relevant business events.
I encourage you to get in contact with our South Australian government representative Ms Natalya Twohill, Regional Director, Southeast Asia, for support and to explore opportunities to do business with South Australian companies.
Thank you again for welcoming me here.
I wish David and his team at the South Australian chapter of the Australian Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce, all our South Australian wineries and everyone here today a wonderful event, where I hope you will make some great connections.