Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed is leading a delegation involving Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland, and Irish food industry representatives, on a five-day trade mission to the USA and Canada.

The focus of the five-day trip is on the Irish meat, dairy and beverages sectors and building on existing trading relationships in North America.

The value of Irish food and drink exports to the United States has doubled since 2012, exceeding €1bn in 2017 for the first time. Exports to Canada totalled €104m in 2017.

Brexit

Minister Creed, speaking ahead of his departure, stressed the importance of strengthening trading relationships against the background of Brexit and creating opportunities for growth in international markets:

“The value of Irish agri-food exports to North America continues to grow. This mission is an opportunity to strengthen and develop existing relationships in the United States. I also want to build on the recent free trade agreement between the EU and Canada, by raising the profile of Ireland as a source of quality food and beverage, and expanding the range of value of exports.”

I also want to build on the recent free trade agreement between the EU and Canada

He added: “Leveraging the very strong presence of the Irish embassies in Washington and Ottawa, and in collaboration with industry and our state agencies, we want to highlight the credentials of Ireland’s food and drink sector from a food safety, sustainability and authenticity perspective, in order to develop a unique selling point for Irish product.”

20 official engagements

The five-city itinerary includes over 20 official engagements, beginning at the North American Meat Industry Conference in Nashville, Tennessee on Monday, 26 February.

Bord Bia will launch a targeted retail and food service engagement campaign at the conference and Irish meat processing companies will promote quality Irish meat to potential buyers and distributors.

The itinerary also includes engagements in Chicago, Ottawa, Toronto, and Washington.

Potential

Bord Bia chief executive Tara McCarthy said it had identified significant potential in North American markets for Irish meat, dairy, beverages and prepared consumer foods.

“This trade mission has provided Bord Bia with an opportunity to deliver a series of high-level targeted trade engagements, in partnership with Irish food and beverage companies.

“I am certain that it can help to build a platform for an increased presence for Irish food and beverage products in this part of the world,” she said.

Minister Creed will also meet key influencers in both the US and Canadian governments, including Canadian agriculture minister Lawrence MacAuley in Ottawa on 28 February.

The mission will conclude with a series of official meetings in Washington DC on Friday 2 March.

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