Bord Bia sets out strategy to boost Irish food in China

AT THE close of a week-long food and agribusiness trade mission to China, An Bord Bia has announced the establishment of two measures aimed at boosting the profile of Irish food in China.

The Ireland-China Food Network will attempt to tap the Irish diaspora in China while the Ireland-China Food Hub will provide a shared office facility for Irish food and drink exporters.

The trade mission, led by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney, included representatives of 51 Irish agri-food companies seeking to develop new business opportunities in the Chinese market.

Also on the mission were government agencies such as Teagasc, BIM, the Marine Institute, the Sea Fisheries Protection Agency and Irish Thoroughbred Marketing.

Mr Coveney said the visit was an excellent example of practical collaborative action between government and industry, developing international business opportunities on the basis of a strong reputation for quality, sustainability and safety.

“This reputation is built on critically important public health and research infrastructure which we have established in the agri-food sector Ireland over many years. This kind of engagement is an important investment in the future development of the Irish agri-food industry.”

The Hub, which will be managed by An Bord Bia, will provide a practical solution for Irish companies seeking to enter the market and establish a sales and market development presence by providing access to shared services, market knowledge and research.

“The purpose of the ‘Hub’ is to enable companies avail of some of the benefits of scale through sharing resources and sharing knowledge,” said Aidan Cotter, Bord Bia chief executive.

“Initially, six companies representing the meat and seafood sectors will join Bord Bia in the new office facility, located within Ireland House in Shanghai.”

On market access for beef and sheep-meat, Mr Coveney said the establishment of a joint working group on market access for Irish beef and sheep-meat to the Chinese market involving the Chinese Inspection and Quarantine Service and his department, was a major step forward and another important technical step on the road to opening the Chinese market to Irish beef.

Vice-minister Wei from the ministry for the quarantine service will visit Ireland in June and beef market access will be discussed further.