The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine, Andrew Doyle T.D. yesterday led a delegation of 30 Irish food exporters on the first day of a trade mission with events in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Speaking from Hanoi Minister Doyle said “This is the first ever Ministerial led Irish food and drink trade mission to Vietnam and my objective is to raise the profile of Ireland as a source for safe, secure and sustainably produced food. While there is existing trade in Irish dairy, pigmeat and seafood here we know that there potential is there for this to significantly grow. With a young open and well educated population of 90 million and a growing middle class, this is a market with enormous potential for our exporters”.
Minister Andrew Doyle TD meeting Vice Minister of Ministry of Planning and Investment Mr Nguyen The Phuong with Ambassador Cait Moran, Secretary General DAFM Aidan O’Driscoll, CEO Bord Bia Aidan Cotter, Michael Cantwell EI and David Butler SFSI on the first day of the trade mission to Asia.
Minister Doyle commenced the visit with a series of political engagements with his Vietnamese counterparts, notably bilateral meetings with the Vietnamese Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development and the Vice-Minister for Planning and Investment respectively.
“Trade between Ireland and Vietnam continues to grow across many different sectors of the economy, especially agri-food. I was delighted to have the opportunity to reiterate our commitment to furthering this relationship. It is clear that the sustainable intensification of our respective agri-food sectors is a national priority for both countries. I also took the opportunity in these bilateral meetings to further our trade priorities, notably the formal submission of Ireland’s application for access to the Vietnamese beef market.” Minister Doyle said after his meetings.
Minister Andrew Doyle TD meeting Vice Minister of Ministry of Planning and Investment Mr Nguyen The Phuong on the first day of the trade mission to Asia.
The Minister later hosted a major conference in Hanoi called “Introducing the Irish food Industry”. This conference targeted key Vietnamese Government officials, food buyers, retailers, media and Irish exporters. The speakers included comprehensive presentations on Ireland`s regulatory systems in food safety, animal welfare as well as the Origin Green sustainability programme Individual Irish food exporters and Vietnamese food buyers then shared experiences on successfully doing business between the two countries.
Commenting on this event the Minister said “this high-level conference was intended as an opportunity in raising the profile of Ireland as sustainable premium producer of food and it very much succeeded in doing so. It is gaining huge coverage by Vietnamese media with four local television channels and other media covering the events thus helping to disseminate our messages to our intended audience. This event also represented for a great platform for the Irish businesses here to make customer contacts for the future”.
Minister Andrew Doyle TD meeting with Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Mr Nguyen Xuan Cuong on the first day of the trade mission to Asia.
Bord Bia CEO Aidan Cotter outlined the assurances provided by Origin Green to Vietnamese consumers and the market analysis and ethnographic work carried out by Bord Bia`s Consumer Insight team. Mr. Cotter commented“Our Consumer Insight work has taught us what Vietnamese consumers value in terms of taste and sustainability, with balance in food as in life being an integral part of the Vietnamese culture. The Insight Team brought a group of Irish companies to Vietnam earlier this year to experience the food and retail culture to optimise their returns from the marketplace and inspire new ideas on innovative product development and packaging that will be attractive to Vietnamese buyers and consumers. The young well educated population here places a premium on food security and food sustainability, not surprising given the threat to Vietnam of climate change. We will be explaining to food buyers and government officials how Origin Green works and how it assures them of a supply of safe secure and sustainably produced quality food”.
Concluding the Minister said “Vietnam enjoys many of the characteristics that make it an attractive market for Irish food exporters. It has a young population, the fastest growing middle class in Asia and a rising affluence. Vietnamese consumers share the concerns of other consumers in relation to food safety, food security and sustainable food production. Irish dairy, pork and seafood products are already widely available in Vietnam and we hope that other Irish meat products will soon join them. The priority on this visit is to raise the profile even further. I am more convinced than ever, as are the Irish companies here on the trade mission that the agri-food relationship between Ireland and Vietnam is only beginning and offers great hope for the future.”
Source: FreshProduce News Room
