Agriculture Minister Mark Furner’s three-day trade mission to Queensland’s fifth largest agricultural export market will aim to capitalise on the gains achieved by the farm sector last financial year.

During a time of heightened strain on production and supply chain disruptions due to the pandemic and skyrocketing fuel, energy and shipping container costs, agricultural exports out of Queensland to Vietnam grew 21 per cent, taking the value of the market to more than $500 million out of a total export volume worth some $2.4 billion.

In return, imports from Vietnam are valued at $750 million.

“So, it is an important two-way relationship,” Furner said ahead of his visit.

“I’m looking forward to meeting with leading importers, distributors and investors to discuss what initiatives we can support that will benefit both Queensland and Vietnam.”

As affluence rises across Asia, Vietnamese consumers are showing a preference for high-quality, safe and nutritious food.

Furner said Queensland farmers were well positioned to deliver on the growing demand.

“Our proximity to Asia, our robust food safety systems and our producers who embrace sustainable and ethical farming practices are fundamental to our state’s reputation for premium food,” he said.

“We have an opportunity to export even more meat, seafood, fruit and vegetables and value-added food and drinks to the region, which means increased jobs across our agricultural supply chains from farm to consumer.”

Furner’s trade mission started the same day Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Tim Watts hosted a roundtable meeting in Melbourne with business and community leaders to boost on Asian literacy and skills.

While Asia’s rapid economic growth trajectory is estimated to account for more than half of global GDP by 2030, the study of key Asian languages at high school level is the lowest in a decade.

The proportion of Australian university students studying an Asian language has fallen by 43 per cent since 2010.

Watts said research had also shown low levels of Asia capability on boards and senior leadership teams in Australia’s biggest companies.

He said the roundtable would explore the knowledge, skills and attributes needed to transform Australia’s economic and people-to-people links to Asia.

“Equipping our businesses and community with Asian literacy and skills will ensure we are part of this success story,” he said.

The findings and recommendations from the meeting will inform the federal government’s Jobs and Skills Summit on September 1-2.