Frequently asked questions

China is the world’s largest agricultural producer and food consumer. With food demand forecast to double by 2050, China is facing significant challenges around food quality, productivity and environmental impact.

Market trends include rapidly growing cross-border trade and e-commerce, increasing consumption in T2+ cities, and outward investment. The China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) has won unprecedented market access for Australian agriculture products and services. Opportunities for Australian businesses exist across commodities, production inputs, technology and services, research partnerships and investment.

Delegates in the Westpac agribusiness Trade Mission to China will learn about these trends and opportunities, and will meet with Chinese companies and Agricultural industry experts as outlined within the itinerary.

Delegates will visit Shanghai, China’s commercial capital, and Chengdu the capital of Sichuan province and home to China’s leading private agribusiness company New Hope Group. Delegates will also travel to ChongQing, with a visit to the largest commercial, trading and logistics industry group in west China.

For any questions or requirements, please contact Kylie Moers from Westpac Agribusiness on 0466 383 242, or email kmoers@westpac.com.au. You may also speak with your banker directly.

Yes, Austrade is supporting the Westpac Agribusiness China Trade Mission, and is available to speak with interested delegates directly to run through the various site visits within the itinerary, types of companies that will be visited and who will be attending the networking events. If you would like to speak with an Austrade representative specialising in your business area, please let us know.

In order to secure your place on the China Trade Mission a registration payment of $4,000 (per person) is required to cover the program and activities organised by Austrade and Westpac China. Westpac Agribusiness will be funding networking events and some of the costs associated with entertaining and group bus travel during the trip.

Please note: Costs for your flights, visa, transit, any insurances, accommodation & some entertaining/meal expenses and transfers are not included - delegates would need to make these arrangements independently and cover these additional costs.

Delegates are to cover the cost of their own stay at each hotel in China and any costs incurred as part of that stay are the guests own responsibility.
We have a preference for all delegates to stay at the one hotel for ease of coordination and transport. Westpac will arrange a group booking to reserve rooms and obtain a competitive group rate at the locations to be listed within the itinerary. We will then advise you of the location and information required to make arrangements.
Please advise if you do not wish to use the preferred hotel we select, and would like to make your own accommodation booking at a different location instead. In this case you would need to organise your own accommodation booking, and any additional transfers.

Delegates are responsible for making their own flight arrangements, bookings, insurances and all other flight related costs.
Delegates will need to arrange their flights to/from and within China.
Information on preferred flights will be included within the itinerary, and the flights that our accompanying Agribusiness team will be taking will be updated to the itinerary as information becomes available.
Delegates are encouraged to select the same flights if they prefer and meet the Westpac Agribusiness team in Sydney upon departure for the outbound flight.

Application for Visa’s and any Visa requirements are the delegate’s responsibility.
Austrade will provide an invitation letter for your Chinese Visa application. So that Austrade can prepare the invitation accordingly, delegates are required to provide the following necessary details upon event registration:
- Name as on the Passport
- Title
- Company name
- Passport number
- Passport Issuing and Expiry Date
- Passport issuing Place
- Date of Birth

Delegates with any specific needs or requirements can be catered to at events, Kylie Moers (the Westpac Agribusiness contact point for the Trade Mission), will make contact with all delegates in the lead up to the trip to ensure any needs are accommodated and that arrangements will be suitable.

These events are still currently being developed and the itinerary will be updated as planning progresses. Delegates can also speak with Austrade directly with regards to who may be attending specific events.

In the lead up to the trip we will be providing more information around this aspect and will let you know of anything you should be aware of. Further information on understanding the importance of Chinese Values for business success in available from the Westpac-AsiaLink Business China Cultural Awareness Guide.

Westpac Agribusiness will be providing the opportunity for delegates to WebEx or teleconference into meetings with our Agribusiness team, Austrade and Westpac in China. This will assist to answer any questions and share information in the lead up to the trip. This is also an opportunity to connect with other delegates who will also be attending the Trade Mission.

Additionally, we are working to build an Alumni of past Trade Mission guests, for you to meet with a network and share experiences.

The China Trade Mission Trip Itinerary is being planned by Austrade in conjunction with Westpac in China and Westpac Agribusiness in Australia. The itinerary is being designed to suit the range of diverse business needs of our delegate group.

The itinerary will be updated further in the lead up to the trip as planning progresses and delegates will be kept informed of any updates and sent the latest itinerary. One of the key reasons for the ongoing development of the itinerary is to tailor our business visits in China to the unique needs of our customers who will join the tour. This way we ensure to optimise the learnings and opportunities abroad.

Clients may be able to reclaim their international marketing expenses through the Austrade-run export market development grants (EMDG). They are welcome to contact an Austrade EMDG adviser directly to find out if they are eligible and for a one-on-one consultation. The scheme is outlined here.

We highly recommend delegates to arrange their own dual language business cards in Mandarin. This is at the delegates cost, to be arranged by each delegate independently. Business cards are highly regarded within China and further enable networking.

We also suggest each delegate download the WeChat Application (via their App store) on their mobile device. WeChat is a primary communication and business tool used across Asia, and sometimes used in place of exchanging business cards.

The delegation group will also be added to a dedicated private WeChat group to promote ease of communication and sharing of images while on the Trade Mission. We have found this to be a highly useful collaborative platform.

Yes. You can hear from our 2016 delegates, managers and participating businesses directly via the video below.

We will also provide an opportunity for you to meet with some of the previous delegation in the lead up to the 2017 Trade Mission, where they can share important learnings and their stories about the benefits for their businesses, through collaboration, learnings and better understanding.

If you have any other questions, please refer to your banker or contact Kylie Moers from Westpac Agribusiness on 0466 383 242, or email kmoers@westpac.com.au.