James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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154. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to develop trade with Iran; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23999/18]

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 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.

Food Wise 2025 outlines the potential for growth in agri-food exports to new and emerging markets, including in Asia, Africa and the Gulf region.

There has been strong interest from Irish food and drink exporters in what have been increasing opportunities in the Gulf region - a market that has grown by over a third in the last 5 years, to a value of over €400m in 2017.  Iran, with a population of 80 million people and a relatively wealthy middle class, has been identified by Irish exporters as a market worthy of further exploration. Against that background, my Department led a trade mission to Iran, along with Bord Bia and a number of Irish food manufacturers, in 2016.

While at the moment I have no further plans to visit Iran at this time, the wider Gulf region does remain firmly in our sights.  I led a trade mission to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in February of last year.  Bord Bia, the body responsible for marketing Irish food, has an office in Dubai aimed at identifying and capitalising on opportunities for Irish food in the region, including Iran, on an ongoing basis.  The Irish Ambassador in Ankara, Turkey, has also visited Iran frequently, working both bilaterally and in cooperation with the state agencies in order to assist Irish companies exploring opportunities there.