Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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224. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which new markets continue to be established for Irish food and food products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25518/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Food Vision 2030, our shared strategy for the sustainable development of the agri-food sector over the decade ahead, includes several actions to develop overseas market opportunities and envisages a sustainable increase in the value of Irish agri-food exports to €21 billion by 2030, driven by value rather than volume. This will of course benefit both our primary producers and our agri-food industry.

Much progress has been made in the last decade in expanding the reach of Irish agri-food exports to consumers worldwide. Selling into international markets is challenging, but developing and diversifying new markets continues to be a top priority for my Department, in cooperation with Bord Bia.

An important component of the Government's strategy to develop and diversify markets is high-level ministerial trade missions. I have just returned from China, and further trade missions are planned later in the year to Africa and South East Asia.

Also essential to the development of new markets outside the EU is the technical work that frequently takes place behind the scenes. Technical negotiations with importing countries, including inward visits and inspection by their competent authorities, are typically a lengthy and multifaceted process, often taking several years before bilateral agreements are concluded and trade can commence.

For example, my Department hosted inward meat inspection missions from Thailand, Malaysia and the United States in 2022 and earlier this year we hosted an inspection team from Mexico. Looking forward, advance planning is now underway on scheduling a visit by Vietnamese auditors in the second half of the year.

Specifically in terms of meat exports, notable successes were achieved the past year in terms of market access for Irish meat, including: pork and pork products to Malaysia; beef, pigmeat and sheepmeat to Cambodia; and poultrymeat and chicken feet to Namibia. My Department also achieved enhanced access to markets including Singapore and the Philippines. Perhaps most notably, in January, our beef access to China was restored and following significant efforts, the first shipment arrived in Shanghai on 23rd April.

While my Department’s role is to open up international markets in consultation with stakeholders, it is for industry - with the support of my officials and Bord Bia’s marketing expertise - to develop the potential opportunities available to it in those markets. The time frame for reaping the benefits is always a commercial decision for export enterprises.