Ireland explores cooperation opportunities

China is a key strategic market for the Irish food industry and Ireland is actively engaged in exploring cooperation opportunities with leading Chinese buyers and enterprises during the China International Import Expo, Tara McCarthy, chief executive officer of Bord Bia told Shanghai Daily.

There are 11 Irish food-related enterprises taking part in the expo, according to Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board, the Irish government agency responsible for the marketing and promotion of Irish food and related market development.

In 2017, Ireland exported food worth around 1 billion euros (US$1.14 billion) to China and it expects that figure will grow over the next few years, driven by rising demand in China for dairy, meat and seafood products.

"We attach great importance to the China International Import Expo and hope to introduce more premium products to China and further tap into the Chinese market," said Andrew Doyle, Irish Minister of State for Food, Forestry and Horticulture, "We’ve always taken pride in the premium quality and rich portfolio of Ireland’s agricultural products. China has long been an important export market, especially for pork and dairy products."

Ireland and China have witnessed continuous growth in trade in various areas. In 2017, China became Ireland’s third largest export market with a value of 910 million euros, representing year-on-year growth of 5 percent. Trade between the two countries has more than doubled in the past four years.

On Tuesday, Bord Bia signed a joint strategic cooperation agreement with Wyeth Nutrition. Wyeth Nutrition promises exports worth 20 billion yuan from Ireland between 2019 and 2021, as part of the effort to promote trade cooperation between the two countries.

Bord Bia and Wyeth Nutritio said both parties will strengthen and expand cooperation in areas including market insight, consumer research and research and development of mother and child nutritional products.