Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Question 15: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to lead a delegation to China in the new year to increase exports of Irish food products and the opening of new markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14592/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I will lead a trade delegation to China from 15-22 April which will comprise representatives from the meat, dairy, seafood, horse and agri-tech sectors. This Trade Mission follows from the successful visit of the Chinese Vice Minister for Agriculture, Mr Niu Dun in May last year, when we signed an Action Plan on mutual cooperation in the agrifood and fisheries sectors and the recent visit of Vice President Xi Jinping to Ireland from 18-20 February 2012 which identified agriculture as a key area for cooperation between both countries. The forthcoming visit of An Taoiseach to China will also help to further deepen Irish Sino relations.

China is a key strategic market for Irish exports of food, seafood and beverages, and presents significant opportunities for other exports. Exports of Irish food and beverages to China are estimated in 2011 at €215m, including exports of hides and skins. Exports of food and beverages alone have risen from €135m in 2010 to an estimated €180m in 2011. It is anticipated that further growth in exports to China will continue in 2012. This increase in exports reflects not only on the Irish companies and Bord Bia that are proactively promoting sales of Irish food and beverages in China but also on the work of my Department in facilitating market access for individual companies into China. Since taking office as Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine, I have sought to foster close relationships with my Ministerial counterparts in China and between officials from our respective administrations to further areas of mutual cooperation and to advance and facilitate market access opportunities in China. In addition to a number of political meetings with my Ministerial counterparts in both the Ministry of Agriculture and the General Administration of Quality, Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), the Trade Mission will involve a series of networking events and sectoral specific itineraries for participating companies.

I hope that this Trade Mission will further enhance the already close relationships with China in the agrifood and fisheries areas and help further the growth of Irish exports of food, beverages seafood, horses and agri tech products into China.