Ireland’s Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Senator Pippa Hackett, recently concluded a trade mission to Thailand and Vietnam, focused on expanding Ireland’s agri-food trade and securing market access. During meetings with Thailand’s Ministry of Agriculture and Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Minister Hackett discussed cooperation and market entry for Irish products.
In Thailand, she met with Deputy Minister Itthi Sirilatthayayakorn and announced progress towards Irish beef access to the Thai market, contingent on finalizing a veterinary health certificate. With its significant demand for high-quality, sustainable beef, the Thai market represents an important opportunity for Irish exporters.
Bord Bia’s CEO, Jim O’Toole, highlighted the mission’s success in promoting Irish dairy and meat, including the launch of an EU dairy campaign. With Thailand’s reliance on imports, Irish dairy products, produced under strict quality standards, were showcased to Thai importers and manufacturers as premium options.
In Vietnam, Minister Hackett engaged with Minister Le Minh Hoan, expressing appreciation for recent progress on Irish pet food exports and a Vietnamese audit of Ireland’s beef systems. Discussions also advanced cooperation on cooked pigmeat exports. The Ireland-Vietnam Agri-Food Partnership, a five-year program by Sustainable Food Systems Ireland, was recognized for supporting Vietnam’s goals for a sustainable food system.
Minister Hackett emphasized the trade mission’s achievements in strengthening relationships, supporting Irish suppliers, and expanding opportunities within Thailand and Vietnam’s growing markets.
(Source: gov.ie)
