Ireland and UE delegations are crossing paths at SIAL China
The Irish Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine Michael Creed and European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan are leading two important delegations that are going to be present at SIAL China, the biggest trade fair in Asia dedicated to food&beverage industries.
Both leaders are going to promote the Irish and European products on the Asian markets with a special attention accorded to the Irish beef that is going to be present from this summer on the Chinese market.
"The value of Irish agri-food exports to China continues to grow and this is welcome. We have a particular opportunity this week to present the Irish beef sector to potential buyers and distributors, following the recent success in obtaining access to the Chinese market. But we also want to build on existing trade links in other areas including dairy, pig meat and seafood. We want to highlight the credentials of Ireland’s food and drink sector from a food safety, sustainability and authenticity perspective, in order to develop a unique selling point for Irish product”, declared Michael Creed before his departure, informs a press release.
According to the Ministry for Agriculture Food and the Marine, Ireland’s agri-food exports to China have increased roughly five-fold from around €200 million in 2010 to nearly €1 billion last year. China is now Ireland’s third largest market overall. Dairy exports to China reached €667 million in 2017, and pigmeat exports have increased from €37 million to €100.3 million between 2012 and 2017. China is also a growing market for seafood and other food and beverage exports.
The Minister will be accompanied by Tara McCarthy, CEO of Bord Bia, senior representatives from Enterprise Ireland as well as Senior Executives from the country's leading companies in the beef, pigmeat, dairy and seafood sectors.
A key engagement in the itinerary will be the participation in the leading food event, SIAL, in Shanghai, where Irish companies will have an opportunity to engage with buyers, distributors and manufacturers from China’s food sector.
For now, ABP Clones in Co Monaghan, Slaney Meats in Co Wexford and Donegal Meat processors have been granted approval to the Chinese market. ABP Nenagh, Kepak Clonee, Kildare Chilling, Liffey Meats and Dawn Meats are all awaiting approval.
Meantime, another European delegation to China, led by Phil Hogan and comprising 70 companies, is going to exhibit at SIAL China, in Shanghai. The EU is “region of honour” this year, and will have a large pavilion at the fair showcasing the qualities of European agrifood products. China is UE's second largest importer of agricultural products accounting for 8.7% of EU exports in this sector. Between 16th of May and 18th of May, 20 European countries will showcase their products at the fair in Shanghai.
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