Federal Agriculture Minister Tony Burke says he has signed a memorandum of understanding with Saudi Arabia on trade.
Mr Burke has stopped off in Alice Springs direct from Middle East trade talks.
He has given an address at the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association conference, where he said a big part of his international trip was expanding the live-cattle export industry.
Mr Burke said he told Middle Eastern representatives about the strength of the Australian agriculture industry, and is securing memorandums of understanding with governments there.
"I signed one of those agreements in Saudi Arabia and there’s another agreement that we nearly have arrived at a landing place with," he said.
"There’s probably a couple of weeks of discussions to go in Bahrain."
’Welfare standards high’
Meanwhile Mr Burke told the cattlemen’s conference he will stand side by side with the industry to defend Australia against animal welfare extremists.
He said he is proud of the industry and believes animal welfare standards are very high.
Mr Burke says the cattle industry is close to the soul of the Australian nation and he is committed to its continued improvement.