Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 May 2012
566 Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on his recent visit to China and the deals done; and his views on the future for the relationship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21859/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI had the great honour of leading the largest ever Irish trade delegation to China, from 15-22 April, 2012, from the meat, dairy, seafood, beverages, bloodstock and agri-services sectors and government bodies. It was the most ambitious trade delegation ever which my Department, Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland brought together, with a total of 51 Irish companies and 127 individuals involved. This was in addition to Government agencies such as Teagasc, BIM, the Marine Institute, the Sea Fisheries Protection Agency, Irish Thoroughbred Marketing and leading universities involved in the provision of educational courses in food safety and agricultural science.
The purpose of the visit was to facilitate the development of the kind of close political, official and commercial relationships that are intrinsic to doing business in China. The Trade Mission was, I believe, an excellent example of the practical collaborative action between government, industry, universities and research institutes that has helped to increase the profile of Ireland as a major producer of high quality food and a centre of excellence in terms of food safety, sustainable production systems, animal breeding and genetics.
China is a key strategic trade partner for Ireland and has a strong demand for imports of quality food, given the size of its population and concerns over food security and safety. Ireland is strategically placed to be a key supplier of quality meats, dairy products, beverages, seafood and other products and services to China. Already in 2011, Ireland has exported €240m of these products to China.
From a political perspective there were also some very significant achievements, following from ongoing discussions with the Chinese side prior to my visit. These included:
1. Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Chinese Inspection and Quarantine Service on sanitary and phyto-sanitary issues, including the setting up of a working group on market access on beef. Ireland is the first country in the EU to have set up such a working group with China and is only one of three countries in the world to date to have such a working group.
2. Signing of a MOU with the Ministry of Agriculture on mutual cooperation in the agri-food and fisheries areas, building on the expressed wish of Chinese Vice President Xi that Ireland and China develop deeper cooperation in agriculture.
3. Signing of a MOU between the Department and the Chinese Inspection and Quarantine Service on the export of Horse feed to China. An Irish feed company, Connollys, is the first foreign company to be approved to export horse feed to China.
4. Renewal of Bovine semen protocol.
5. Signing of a MOU between the Marine Institute and Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences.
Some very significant commercial outcomes were also achieved during the visit including:
The announcement of a $50 million project involving an Irish company in a joint venture to partner China in establishing its national equine facility.
The opening up of the Chinese market and the awarding of business to the first foreign company from Kilkenny for the export of horsefeed to China.
The signing of agreements between BIM and eight Irish Seafood companies to supply China with commercial samples of boar fish to China.
Signing of an Agreement between SAMCO and Pioneer on the supply of machinery for maize growing (Enterprise Ireland).
The setting up of an Ireland-China Food Hub for Irish food and drink exporters, a shared Office facility, which will be managed by Bord Bia and which will target the Chinese market and provide practical solutions and support for Irish companies already in the Chinese market and those seeking to enter the market.
I was also present at the signing of an agreement between UCD and United Dairies which envisages the development of a demonstration farm in China that would use equipment manufactured in Ireland and operated by Chinese staff, trained in Ireland.
I was also particularly delighted to have taken part in the dedicated Sino/Irish Forum on ‘Building a Safe and Sustainable Future for Food' in the Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences. This forum served to highlight and build awareness in China amongst key officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, the Chinese Administration of Quarantine Supervision and Inspection Services and well as key opinion informers and policy makers in China of the high level of official control measures applied to the production of Irish food products and the science underpinning the efficiency and sustainability of Irish food production.
The invitation from the Nanjing Agriculture University to make a key note speech on Ireland's contribution to the future of sustainable agriculture in the context of the major global challenges of food security and climate change was also a key highlight for me of the Trade Mission. Overall, I am very proud of the collaborative approach taken and of the very significant achievements arising from the Trade Mission.
