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The new direct flight service between Dublin and Beijing, due to start in June, will help to strengthen agri-trade between Ireland and China, according to Tánaiste Simon Coveney.
Speaking on RTÉ radio this morning, Coveney stressed the importance of the sale of Irish dairy products to China, particularly infant formula.
Ireland currently supplies around 12% of the world’s infant formula
During his time as Minister for Agriculture, Coveney led a trade mission to China in 2014, during which Kerry officially launched their Irish made infant formula, ''Green Love'', which was sold in partnership with the Chinese dairy company Beingmate.
At the time, Coveney said: “This is exactly where the Irish dairy sector should be positioning itself if it is to realise its vast potential when dairy quotas are abolished next year.”
Embassy glad to host with Hainan Airlines in the presence of @simoncoveney the announcement of nonstop services between Beijing and Dublin commencing 12 June. This first ever direct route to mainland China will greatly benefit the bilateral relationship between China and Ireland pic.twitter.com/Lub4wyQkGH
— Embassy of Ireland (@IrlEmbChina) March 15, 2018
Since that time, Irish milk production increased to roughly 7bn litres in 2017, with milk processors firmly fixed on increasing access to lucrative Asian markets.
Ireland currently supplies around 12% of the world’s infant formula, a number which looks set to increase given the ongoing dairy expansion the country.
Last week, Glanbia announced it would be investing €160m in its Belview site to increase its capabilities to produce infant formula.
Although it has been three years since China lifted the BSE ban on Irish beef, we have yet to gain access to the Chinese meat market.
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