Bord Bia has today (Tuesday, February 27), announced its international trade programme activity for 2024, including trade missions and trade shows across Asia, the US and Europe.
The Irish food board has planned ministerial-led trade missions and 24 trade shows this year across China, Europe, Japan, the US, and South East Asia.
A trade mission to the US will start on March 24, led by Minister of State with responsibility for Research and Development, Farm Safety, and New Market Development, Martin Heydon.
This upcoming trade mission will be followed by another trade mission to China later in the year, according to Bord Bia.
Trade shows and trade missions offer a “real opportunity” to communicate the premium quality of Ireland’s food and drink to customers overseas, Bord Bia CEO, Jim O’Toole said.
Bord Bia
Commenting on the trade programme for 2024, O’Toole said: “Included in Bord Bia’s trade show activity are a host of new trade shows focusing on the meat, dairy, and drink sectors.
“There is a focus on emerging and growing markets, including South East Asia, which is growing at pace and represents a priority target market for the diversification of Irish food and drink exports.”
In October, Bord Bia will exhibit at the Nordic Organic Trade Show in Stockholm for the first time to build awareness of pasture raised organic beef and lamb across Europe.
Bord Bia is also organising the Irish presence at other European trade fairs in the coming months, attracting buyers from Europe, the UK, US, China, South East Asia and Japan.
In October there will also be a ministerial trade visit to France to coincide with SIAL, one of the largest international trade shows that takes place every second year in Paris.
For the drinks category, there will be two new Prowein trade shows, both in Singapore in April and in Mumbai in November, according to Bord Bia.
Meeting face-to-face with international customers is “incredibly important” for driving business and leads to benefits all along the supply chain, particularly for farmers, O’Toole said.
Trade shows are “strategically important” for Irish exporting companies looking at building new contacts, he said. Irish food and drink exports are worth €16.3 billion to the Irish economy.
To date this year, Bord Bia has participated at Biofach in Germany, Gulfood in Dubai in February and ISM for the sweets and snack industry (PCF) which was held in January in Cologne.