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Producers in South Australia once again have a direct connection to Asian markets after the Federal Government re-established a pivotal trade route.
More than 30 tonnes of SA produce, seafood, and meat are currently being transported to Asia under a new agreement with Singapore Airlines.
The trade flight, established through the Federal Government's International Freight Assistance Mechanism, will enable a mix of chilled seafood, tuna, lamb, chicken meat and eggs distributed across markets including Hong Kong, Thailand and China.
Federal Trade Minister Simon Birmingham says the agreement is great news for struggling exporters and producers in South Australia.
"We're backing South Australia's farmers and fishers through this agreement that will restore this critical freight route and give exporters a direct line back into key export markets across Asia," Birmingham said.
"Our exporters fight so hard to win contracts in export markets and we want to make sure they can continue to get their products to their customers on time.
"The more South Australian produce, meat, and seafood we can onto these flights and headed overseas, the more local jobs we can secure and the more export dollars we can bring back into South Australia."
The International Freight Assistance Mechanism is part of the Morrison Government's $1 billion Relief and Recovery Fund designed to assist communities and industry sectors that have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Premier of South Australia Steven Marshall says the new route will provide a significant boost for local exporters and those employed in the sector.
"Today marks a real turning point for South Australia's exporters who have been struggling with the impacts of coronavirus," says Marshall.
"It's fantastic that our local producers now have a clear pathway to supply their fresh premium produce to markets around the world.
"This is a great result for local jobs, and I'd like to extend my gratitude to the Morrison Government and Singapore Airlines for supporting South Australian businesses."
Related story: WA resumes air freight to Singapore
Updated at 3:10pm AEST on 6 May 2020.
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