A Business Luncheon hosted by AMBC-Victoria in collaboration with Baker Tilly, Pitcher Partners was held today (Tuesday, 8/4/2014 from 12-2 pm) at Pitcher Partners HQ at 15 Williams Street. The said event with the Honourable Peter Walsh (Minister for Agriculture, Food Security and Water) as guest of honour and keynote speaker saw the attendance of more than 100 participants. The event saw welcoming speeches from Mr Joe Perri, President of AMBC-Victoria and Mr Michael Langhammer, CEO of Baker Tilly, Pitcher Partners. The gist of their welcoming speeches was to thank the Minister for his time to share about Malaysia-Victoria bilateral relations in the agriculture sector.
Dr Rameez was also given the opportunity to address the audience before the lunch commenced and the Minister’s keynote address. During his speech, Dr Rameez made mention of the need for better engagement and enhancement of relations between both Malaysia and Australia, especially Victoria in the agriculture sector with the advent of the Malaysia Australia Free Trade Agreement (MAFTA) that came into effect in January 2013.
During his keynote address, Minister Peter Walsh made mention of the Victorian Government Super Trade Mission to Malaysia in June 2013, and how the said mission was so successful, that exchanges of positions and views with the Malaysian Minister of Agriculture was made to enhance more trade linkages in the agriculture sector as well as recognising the need for transferring of technology. The Minister also raised that other than having more agricultural product exchanges between both Malaysia and Victoria, there was also the need for technology transfer in areas such as dairy related industries that Victoria claims niche. The said business luncheon ended with a Q and A session that saw the Minister, Dr Rameez and Mr Joe Perri answering some of the questions pertaining to agricultural exchanges between both Malaysia and Victoria with regard to land mapping issues.
After the said meeting, Dr Rameez also raised with Minister Peter Walsh of the opportunity for Malaysia to showcase some of its agricultural produces in Melbourne via an Agro Baazar. The Minister was happy to assist on the said matter and asked to communicate with Mr James Flintoft, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Group of the Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries on the said matter.
