The NSW Wine Industry Association and the NSW Government have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Under this MoU, and in partnership with industry, the NSW Government will undertake to focus on the areas of export markets development, regional wine tourism, and research and innovation.
This includes helping NSW wineries to maximise the opportunities outlined in the recent Export and Regional Wine Support Package (ERWSP) announced by the federal government; finalising and releasing the NSW Food and Wine Tourism Strategy and Action Plan (2020) as soon as possible; and improving support for and promotion of inbound visitation across regional NSW, including visitation of wine regions and cellar doors.
The MoU also stipulates ongoing high-level meetings between government and wine industry every six months at a minimum, and will also see the use and promotion of NSW wines at NSW Government functions and venues, as well as showcasing NSW wine during any overseas Ministerial trade missions
“This document represents much hard work done behind the scenes and a much closer working relationship between us and the government,” says Tom Ward, president of the NSW Wine Industry Association.
“It is vital for an industry that not only provides regional communities with sustainable employment and boosts their economic activity but also contributes $1.6 billion to the total NSW economy and plays an important role in our state’s $38 billion tourism sector.”
The MoU was also signed by Minister for Tourism and Major Events and Assistant Minister for Skills Adam Marshall MP and Minister for Primary Industries, Minister for Regional Water and Minister for Trade and Industry Niall Blair MLC, who said: “This Government knows the value of the wine industry to our state, and especially to the regional communities it supports.
“We’ve signed this MoU to ensure the NSW wine industry is in the best possible position to capitalise on trade opportunities, tourism initiatives and research and development, while growing at home and abroad.”
Image: (L to R) Minister Blair and Tom Ward