Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 October 2023
246. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which new markets continue to be established for Irish food and food products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47213/23]
View answerA key element of Food Vision 2030, the Irish agri-food sector's 10-year strategic development plan, is to grow the value of our agri-food exports on international markets. Food Vision identifies a number of actions targeted at realising this growth ambition, including market diversification and market promotion activities.
My Department works with industry and Bord Bia to realise the new opportunities which will support the continuing growth of our agri-food exports. This includes a focus on markets and regions with growing middle-class populations and rising disposable incomes, markets with consumers who have a significant and growing appetite for the high-quality, sustainable and safe dairy, meat, beverages and seafood produced by our farmers, fishers and processors.
A key component of my Department's efforts to market Irish agri-food goods internationally is our Ministerial Trade Mission programme. In 2022 I and Minister Heydon led Trade Missions to the United States, Mexico, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Singapore and Vietnam, as well as European promotional activities in the United Kingdom, France and Germany. Already in 2023 we have had Ministerial led Trade Missions to high potential growth markets in China and West Africa (Nigeria and Senegal).
In April 2023, Minister Heydon went to China, where he supported a number of Irish exporters in promoting their high quality agri-food products at one of China's largest trade fairs in Hainan, and held high-level executive meetings with key customers for Irish food in Shanghai.
I led a further trade mission to China in May, including a visit to the SIAL food trade fair in Shanghai, which underlines the Government's commitment to what is the top opportunity market in Asia for Irish agri-food exports.
In September I led a successful Trade Missions to Nigeria and Senegal and next week I will be taking part in a Team Ireland Trade Mission to Korea where I will seek to progress our beef market application. In November Minister Heydon will lead a Trade Mission to Malaysia and the Philippines.
This programme of Ministerial Trade Missions provides important opportunities for the Government to enhance the ongoing efforts of Bord Bia and industry in marketing Ireland's high quality, sustainably produced agri-food products in key priority growth markets.
