Irish minister leads agri-food trade visit to China
The minister will promote Irish dairy, beef and pork
6 April 2023
2 minute read
By: Martin Heydon, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for new market development, will lead trade engagements in China next week, according to a news release from the Irish government. The Minister will be promoting Irish food and drink across a range of sectors including dairy, beef, pork, seafood and spirit drinks as part of the first in-person agri-food trade visit to China since 2019.
The trade visit will begin in Hainan where Minister Heydon will lead Irish participation in the 2023 Hainan Expo, along with the Embassy of Ireland, Bord Bia, and a number of Irish food and drink companies. Minister Heydon will take the opportunity as a keynote speaker at the Expo to highlight the opportunities for trade between Ireland and China, focussing on the promotion of Ireland’s high quality and safe agri-food offering.
"Ireland is proud of its world renowned and quality assured food and drink products, which have already found favour with many Chinese consumers. The Chinese market presents exciting new opportunities for the Irish agri-food sector," Heydon said.
The Minister will then travel to Shanghai for a series high level engagements with Irish agri-food companies and their Chinese customers, facilitated by Bord Bia.
“It is important for Ireland, as a leading exporter of quality, safe and sustainable food, to re-connect in person with high priority markets in Asia. China with its growing middle class is a key market," Heydon said. "After the turbulence of recent years I look forward to engaging in person with leading Irish exporters and their Chinese customers, exploring with them the opportunities to develop further long-term trading partnerships."
“In particular, I am looking forward to engaging with Bord Bia and Irish exporters on their plans to build on the reopening of beef market access to China at the start of January, the outcome of sustained efforts by my department with the support of the Beijing Embassy," he concluded.I
