Historic freight deal between Toowoomba and Vietnam to boost local producers

A daily direct freight route is in store for Toowoomba, with a Memorandum of Understanding to be signed this morning with Vietnam’s largest luxury importer. Details here.

Downs producers will have direct access to the Vietnam market after a Memorandum of Understanding is signed this morning at Toowoomba’s Wellcamp Airport.

Wagner Corporation and Vietnam’s largest luxury importer, Imex Pan Pacific Group (IPPG) will develop a direct freight route between the Toowoomba airport and Cam Ranh Airport next year.

The ‘Commerce Corridor’ aims to provide access to a consumer market valued at more than $10 billion for producers in the Darling Downs, creating 130 direct jobs in regional Queensland and could see daily international cargo flights between the two airports start by March 2023.

Wagner Corporation Chairman John Wagner said the Commerce Corridor is a fantastic opportunity to support local agriculture and showcase the products Australia has to offer.

“As a proud Queensland business with a global outlook, we’re committed to fostering cross border trade to benefit the region’s producers,” he said.

“In recent years, the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic have resulted in escalated costs to existing supply chains, due to a reduction in local freight transport options.

“It is estimated that 15 per cent of interstate airfreight exports originate in Queensland which adds a 12-hour transit time before freight arrives at an airport for export.

“IPP Group has substantial experience in logistics, in-country sales and distribution which will complement our ability to deliver fit-for-purpose facilities and increase capacity for further development at Wellcamp.”

IPPG vice president Philip Nguyen high quality goods would be showcased to its growing customer base.

“The Commerce Corridor will access our customers’ growing demand for a range of Australian products, from beef and other agricultural produce to pre-packaged foods,” he said.

“This is just the beginning.

“The direct freight route is a platform for further opportunities to develop bilateral trade and partnerships between Australian and Vietnamese businesses.”

The signing follows a number of weeks of negotiations between Wagner Corporation and IPPG.

Originally published as Historic freight deal between Toowoomba and Vietnam to boost local producers