Wine Industry Development Minister Margaret Keech wants Queensland wines to be served in luxury Indian hotels. Mrs Keech, who is in India leading the Queensland on Tour â€" India trade mission â€" today turned spruiker and extolled the virtues of Queensland wines when she visited one of India’s largest wineries with the president of the Bangalore Wine Club. “India’s wine industry is in its infancy and wine sales and wine appreciation are growing rapidly,” Mrs Keech said after her visit to the Grover Vineyards near here.
(Media-Newswire.com) - Wine Industry Development Minister Margaret Keech wants Queensland wines to be served in luxury Indian hotels.
Mrs Keech, who is in India leading the Queensland on Tour – India trade mission – today turned spruiker and extolled the virtues of Queensland wines when she visited one of India’s largest wineries with the president of the Bangalore Wine Club.
“India’s wine industry is in its infancy and wine sales and wine appreciation are growing rapidly,” Mrs Keech said after her visit to the Grover Vineyards near here.
“Rapid economic growth and the increasing wealth and sophistication of the Indian consumer will increase the potential for Australian wines.
”The key factor inhibiting growth of imported wine is extraordinarily high import tariff rate and state taxes.
“However, governments are being lobbied to change their policies, presenting an unprecedented opportunity for the Queensland industry.
“No Queensland winery currently exports to India – I want that to change.”
Mrs Keech said the golden opportunity for Queensland lay with 5-star hotels.
“Eighty per cent of imported wines here are sold through on-premise channels due to removal of import tariffs for wines sold to 5-star hotels,” she said.
“The Australian Trade Commission reports that more than 60 5-star hotels are due to open throughout India in the next 18 months. Expansion of this sector will have a significant impact in growth of imported wine in India.
“The retail landscape is also changing, with 375 shopping malls to be established in next 18 months, and some will include hypermarkets and wine outlets.
“That’s the level of opportunity here for wine exporters, but the competition will be red hot.
“I’m confident we can convince Queensland wineries to consider India as an export market, and I’m confident we can convince hotels to give Queensland wines a go.
“It’s not something that will happen overnight, but the opportunity is there; we have to start the process and the planning now if we are to win over Indians.
”The Wine Industry Development Division of my Department will continue to work with Queensland Trade Commissioner David Belham to seek opportunities for the Queensland wine industry in India.”
Media contacts: Jo Gibbons 3224 2007 or David Smith 3225 1005
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