Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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343. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of trade missions undertaken by his Department to date in 2017; the destination of these missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33310/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The pursuit and development of new markets for Irish agri-food exports is of course an on going and central component of the strategic development of the agri-food sector, as evidenced by its placement right at the centre of Food Wise 2025, the industry’s strategy for development over the coming decade. Indeed, this is all the more relevant after the UK’s decision to leave the EU, which presents significant new challenges for the agri-food sector in particular.

Food Wise 2025 outlines the huge potential for growth in exports to new and emerging markets. In keeping with the priorities outlined in Food Wise 2025, I led a trade mission to the Gulf Region at the end of February 2017. This covered the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. This mission served to enhance and improve our existing levels of market access in Saudi Arabia and the UAE and to raise the profile of Ireland as a producer of high quality food products.

In June of this year I also led an extensive trade mission to the US and Mexico. This trade mission was a great opportunity to strengthen our existing market presence in the United States, to deepen the existing footprint of the Irish food sector in Mexico, and establish a platform to develop new market opportunities for Irish beef and pigmeat there. It also allowed us crucial opportunities to meet representatives of the new US administration, and to gain a better understanding of their key policy priorities in the agri food sector, and to engage with political counterparts in Mexico as we endeavour to forge new opportunities for Irish food companies.

I am also considering a range of other destinations for the remainder of 2017.  

In addition to trade missions, my Department will host a number of veterinary delegations this year to extend and maintain access to third country markets, its attachés in third countries are actively engaged in market access and trade promotion efforts, a senior veterinary official from my Department will shortly be participating in a promotional visit to Japan, and Bord Bia, with funding provided by my Department, will be represented at a number of high profile trade fairs both in third country and EU markets, in order to promote Irish produce.