The New South Wales Wine Industry Association and the NSW Government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aimed at boosting the state’s wine industry.
The MoU will see both sides work in partnership to focus on the areas of export markets development, regional wine tourism, and research and innovation.
This includes helping NSW wineries 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.
Tom Ward, President of the NSW Wine Industry Association, who signed the MoU, said: “This document represents much hard work done behind the scenes and a much closer working relationship between us and the government.
“It is vital for an industry that not only provides regional communities with sustainable employment and boosts their economic activity but also contributes $1.6bn to the total NSW economy and plays an important role in our state’s $38bn tourism sector.”
The deal was also signed by Minister for Primary Industries, Minister for Regional Water and Minister for Trade and Industry, Niall Blair MLC, who added: “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.”
The MoU also stipulates ongoing high level meetings between the Government and the win industry every six months as well as using and promoting NSW wines at NSW Government functions and venues and showcasing NSW wine during any overseas Ministerial trade missions.