Press release
Minister Heydon to lead agri-food trade visit to China
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
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. 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.
Minister Heydon will note:
"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."
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.
Minister Heydon commented:
“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. 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.”
According to CSO trade statistics, China was Ireland’s sixth most important destination for agri-food exports in 2022, with exports totalling approximately €722 million.
Dairy exports were the most important product category, at €463 million, followed by pigmeat exports valued at €125 million.
Note that CSO trade statistics may differ slightly from Bord Bia export data, in particular because CSO figures include non-edible agri-food products such as forestry and animal hides.