The German Minister for Consumer Protection, Ms Renate Kunast, will be among the first visitors to the Irish stand at the Green Week Trade fair which opens in Berlin later today.
There is a large Irish representation at what is recognised as the largest consumer food fair in the world, focused exclusively on the consumer.
This is the 67th time the event has been held, and it is expected to attract nearly 500,000 visitors. Food and drinks are being presented by companies from 60 countries.
Bord Bia, the Irish food board, has participated for 30 years, generating an awareness of quality Irish food and drink among German consumers.
It has chosen the theme, "Experience Ireland the Food Island", for this year's exhibition, which will feature products from dozens of Irish companies.
They will be competing for some of the German food and drinks market which has been valued at €188.7 billion in 2000.
The balance of trade between Ireland and Germany has been in the former's favour. Last year total Irish exports to Germany were valued at €11 billion.
Of this, a total of €358 million was made up of Irish food, representing 3 per cent of the total exports in 2000. This was a 9 per cent increase on levels this time last year.
Later today the board will publish its annual review and outlook for 2001, which was a difficult year because of the problems with BSE on the Continent and foot-and-mouth in Britain and Ireland.
Beef consumption in Germany has not recovered since the BSE crisis of November 2000, and Irish companies have been working to reverse this trend in a market which has been traditionally difficult for Irish beef exporters.