asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries how many Bord Bainne members or employees visited Japan during the last 12 months, (a) the duration of their visit, (b) the reason for their visit and (c) the results of their visit in terms of sales in value.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bord Bainne Visits to Japan.
15.
I am informed by An Bord Bainne that no board member visited Japan on its business in the past 12 months but that five of its officers visited that country for periods of four days, four days, eight days, and 15 days, respectively. These visits were for—
(i) discussing and investigating various aspects of the Japanese market for dairy products,
(ii) establishing contact with the principal users and importers of dairy products in Japan.
(iii) opening an office of the board in Tokyo, and
(iv) arranging for the board's participation in the Irish exhibit at Expo '70 in Osaka.
Immediate results of the visits are stated to have been the export to Japan of the first-ever shipment of Irish cheddar cheese and securing the first order there since 1965 for skim milk powder. The long-term results of the visits cannot be fully evaluated as yet.