Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, will a lead a first, post pandemic, full Ministerial trade mission to China in cooperation with Bord Bia.
Speaking ahead of the Trade Mission, Minister McConalogue stated: “I am delighted to lead this first full in-person trade mission to China following the lifting of pandemic travel restrictions. This trade mission provides us with an important opportunity to promote our, safe, high quality, sustainably produced meat, dairy, seafood and beverages in a market which has huge potential.
“I look forward in particular to supporting the re-entry of Irish beef on the Chinese market following the lifting the restrictions by China earlier this year.”
The Minister noted that: “Our shared Food Vision 2030 strategy envisages growing the value, rather than the volume, of Irish agri-food exports in the decade ahead, and importantly delivering that value back to our farmers and fishers as the bedrock of our sector, and this trade mission is an exciting opportunity to further raise the profile of our unique food and drink offering among discerning Chinese consumers.
“The potential for growing the value of our trade with the Chinese market, in particular for beef exports, is critically important to the development ambitions of the sector which ultimately supports the sustainability of our family farm model.
“My clear focus on this Trade Mission is to support the sector’s efforts to grow their presence in China especially for added-value products.”
This trade mission will include events in both Beijing and Shanghai including government to government meetings, and Bord Bia engagements including top to top meetings with leading customers for Irish food and participation in SIAL Shanghai, the world’s largest food and beverage trade show. The Minister will also launch Bord Bia-led EU Dairy and Meat Promotion Seminars during the trade mission, as well as promotional events for Irish Whiskey and Irish seafood, and Enterprise Ireland events.
Minister McConalogue will also as participate in Bord Bia led EU Dairy and Meat Promotion Seminars during the trade mission.
Bord Bia CEO, Jim O’Toole said: “Ireland has built a solid trading relationship with China and it is now our sixth largest trade destination for food and drink by value, accounting for 4% of all exports. This week Bord Bia has devised a combination of insight-led itineraries and strategic buyer engagement opportunities that will support Irish food and drink companies in their efforts to deepen existing key trade relationships and to create new business opportunities. A growing middle class with high disposable incomes in Chinese cities is creating an aspirational consumer base with an increasing interest in premium food products and access to sophisticated digital retail platforms. Irish exporters are ideally placed to service these consumer demands.”
Minister McConalogue concluded: “This trade mission will be a real Team Ireland undertaking, with strong support from the Embassy of Ireland in China, my own department, Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland. I also very much look forward to engaging with Irish food companies and their key Chinese trade customers.”
Total agri-food product exports to China in 2022 amounted reached to over €722 million, which represents a 76% increase over the last decade, according to CSO trade statistics.
CSO trade statistics include non-edible products such as forestry, which are not included in Bord Bia statistics. Last year, dairy exports to China amounted to €463 million; with pigmeat exports at €125 million. Fish (€35 million) and beverages (€15 million) are other important export categories.