Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour)
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6. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made to date on joint agricultural development and agribusiness investments in Ethiopia and Ireland, other opportunities being explored for agribusiness in Africa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53133/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Ireland has strong links with Ethiopia which have been developed over many years. Eighty five percent (85%) of employment in Ethiopia is currently provided by agriculture, therefore it is clear that the continued development of sustainable agriculture production systems and the development of a vibrant agri-food industry in Ethiopia represent huge opportunities to provide food and livelihood security for many millions of Ethiopians.

In this regard I believe that Ireland’s agri-food sector has a role to play in assisting Ethiopia reach its full potential. During the 3^rd Africa Ireland Economic Forum, held in Dublin in October this year, I met my counterpart from Ethiopia, Mr Tefera Derbew, to discuss current developments in the agri-food sectors in Ireland and Ethiopia. At this meeting we signed a joint Statement of Intent which encourages enhanced cooperation between Ireland and Ethiopia in the areas of agriculture, in particular continued cooperation in the areas of Agricultural Research and Training.

In follow up to this at the end of October 2013 Teagasc signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research which provides for further close collaboration between the two bodies.

Ethiopia is one of nine Key Partner Countries for Ireland’s overseas aid programme administered by Irish Aid. In 2012, Irish Aid’s bilateral programme spending in Ethiopia was €26 million. Irish Aid also provided funding to agencies including Concern, Goal, Self Help Africa, Trócaire and UN organisations in Ethiopia, bringing our total funding for Ethiopia to over €32 million.

In addition as the Deputy may be aware in 2012 the Tanaiste and I launched the Africa Agri-food Development Fund (AADF). The Fund aims to develop partnerships between the Irish Agri-Food Sector and African countries to support sustainable growth of the local food industry, build markets for local produce and support mutual trade between Ireland and Africa.

One project which has received funding from the Fund is MaGrow, a technology which uses magnetic inserts to improve spraying/irrigation equipment used for crop spraying. The project aims to develop a manufacturing facilities and jobs in both Ireland and Ethiopia. To date AADF funding has been approved for the start-up phase of the project which includes a comprehensive business plan and production of prototype to be followed by field trials in Ethiopia. AADF funding will also be considered the further stages of the project.

I will continue to encourage Irish private sector agri-food enterprises to look at the potential of Africa in the coming years to develop cooperation and trade.