SYDNEY—Selling rice products to China or railway technology to Japan is no easy feat - just ask the Australian exporters who are having a go.
Gold Coast-based business Pacific Food Industries and Sydney's Delkor Rail, after years of trying, have a foot in the doorway of both tough markets.
China's food and beverage sector was worth around $125 billion in 2006, up by more than 25 per cent on the previous year.
Pacific Food Industries is looking for a piece of the pie after this month sending off the first order for its curry paste and rice flavours.
Managing director Luis Liang said the Australian product had an advantage because of the country's clean and green image.
"The quality is perceived as better compared to those manufactured in China," Mr Liang said.
"We are now exporting a curry paste, chicken rice paste, coconut rice paste and stir fry paste for fried rice that's already pre-mixed and just needs to be added to rice for flavour."
Meanwhile, Delkor Rail stands to make its first $10 million in Japan if a Tokyo trial of its Australian-designed vibration and noise reducing rail plates proves popular.
After ten years of lobbying Japan, and despite multi-million dollar successes with the product in Australia, Hong Kong and Canada, the Australian manufacturer has only been allowed to install 300 plates on a small Tokyo bridge later this year.
General manager George Stamboulis said there were 9,000 of the 400mm x 250mm cast iron and rubber rail fastening plates already installed on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
"The Japanese traditionally like to use their own products, so this is major breakthrough into the Japanese market," Mr Stamboulis said.
"If this trial succeeds, and we are pretty sure it will, then the opportunity is huge in the Japanese market."