Written answers

Thursday, 26 April 2018

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Food Marketing Programme

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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178. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he and his Department continue to seek out new markets for Irish agrifood exports both within the EU and outside; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18495/18]

Photo of Michael CreedMichael 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 ongoing 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. 

In terms of the European dimension to our response, additional funding that I have provided to Bord Bia has been used to support market diversification efforts by companies through its Market Intensification Programme, which was launched in late October 2016, and to support promotional campaigns for Irish beef in Germany and the Netherlands.

In addition, Bord Bia has been providing information to companies on how to establish a presence in other EU countries, and using its network of offices to build long-term relationships in those markets, including through participation in trade fairs. It has also recently opened a new office in Warsaw to expand its support in Eastern Europe, and in Singapore to service eight emerging markets in South East Asia.

Indeed in looking beyond Europe, Food Wise 2025 outlines the huge potential for growth in agri-food exports to new and emerging markets, particularly in Asia, Africa and the Gulf region. This will be a significant focus for the foreseeable future, particularly given the need to diversify our markets and to reduce our reliance on traditional destinations such as the UK.  

In keeping with the priorities outlined in Food Wise 2025 I led a very successful Trade Mission in February 2017 to the Gulf Region. This covered the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. This was followed by an extensive Trade Mission to the US and Mexico in June. Both markets offer many elements that are very attractive to Irish exporters. The US is the largest food and beverage market in the world and has a population of 324 million people. Around 35 million Americans also claim Irish ancestry. Mexico has a population of 127 million, making it the eleventh-largest country in the world in population terms and the fifteenth-largest economy in the world, with projections that it will move into the top five by 2050.

During a trade mission to Japan and South Korea in November 2017 I was accompanied by 40 representatives of the Irish food sector, as well as by experts from my Department, the CEO of Bord Bia and senior representatives from Enterprise Ireland and Teagasc.

This was a very opportune time to bring a delegation of Ireland’s food leaders to this part of the world, given that the EU has concluded a Free Trade Agreement with South Korea as well as concluding an Economic Partnership Agreement with Japan in December 2017. Japan and South Korea are markets of high potential for beef, pigmeat and sheepmeat exports, and so it is important that we raise the profile of Irish agri-food enterprises that already have access to these markets, and make progress in negotiating access for others.

Following on from the successful trade mission to the USA and Canada in February of this year, I will lead further Trade Missions in 2018, including to China and Hong Kong next month as we seek to develop our trading relationship further following the recent opening of the Chinese beef market to exports from Ireland.

This and other missions that my Department is planning for 2018 will serve to enhance and improve our existing levels of market access in these destinations.  It will also promote Ireland’s reputation as a producer of high quality, safe and sustainably produced meat and dairy products.

The destinations are also in keeping with the recent market prioritisation exercise that was completed by Bord Bia at my request. This exercise identified opportunities in new and more mature markets, and will provide valuable market intelligence both for industry operators and policy makers.

My Department will continue to seek out and identify new markets and I am ready to respond as appropriate to other opportunities that may arise.

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