SA builds UK trade partnership at ‘Home of Cricket’

10 Jul 2023
Fresh in the footsteps of South Australian Ashes heroes Travis Head and Alex Carey, South Australian businesses have taken to the pitch at Lord’s Cricket Ground, to stage a global trade showcase at the ‘Home of Cricket’ in London. 

Taking advantage of the Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (A-UKFTA) to drive exports, a trade event was held at the grounds – only days after the controversial second Ashes Test, where Alex Carey’s stumping has captivated both cricketing nations.

The event served to smooth over fiery sporting banter following the match and build new trade partnerships between the two nations, attracting about 100 South Australian business leaders and UK-based distributors and retailers.

Hosted by Agent General for SA and former State Trade and Investment Minister, David Ridgway, the event highlighted the State’s growing global investment opportunities – fast-tracked under the A-UKFTA that came into effect in May. 

Local businesses which attended and are seeking to enter or further expand into the UK market include: 

• Bureau Booths – Adelaide company that creates modular acoustic office booths with existing clients in the UK, exploring plans to open a UK office and showroom following significant interest from potential new global clients. 

• Corryton Burge Winery – Barossa-based recent entrant in the UK wine market looking to maximise its relationship with a key importer. 

• MyVenue – SA-designed point of sale system company which has already signed its first venue deals for use of its software in the UK. 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the A-UKFTA as “one of the best (free trade agreements) Australia has ever done”. It has eliminated tariffs on more than 99 per cent of Australian exports to the UK, paving the way for the State’s agriculture sector in sectors such as wine, honey and nuts, meat, seafood and other premium goods. 

The A-UKFTA provides South Australian businesses with access to a market of over 68 million people. 

This will help support deeper connections for the State’s skills needs in critical sectors such as defence and hi-tech while expanding in industries like renewable energy. 

In the year ending May 2023, goods exports from South Australia to the UK were valued at $380 million. The UK is the South Australia’s most valuable destination for wine exports, totalling $239 million in the same period, with wine representing around two-thirds of the State’s overall exports to the UK. 

The Lord’s event builds on Trade and Investment Minister Nick Champion’s recent trade mission to the United Kingdom where he met with a key architect of the A-UKFTA days before it came into effect: Minister of State at the Department for Business and Trade, the Rt Hon Nigel Huddleston MP.