From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
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Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue today completed a number of important political and trade promotion events on the first day of the whole of government trade mission to Korea.
The focus was primarily on efforts to secure access for Irish beef to Korea and the Minister undertook high level political meetings on this important issue.
Minister McConalogue said:
"Korea is a key and growing market for Irish agrifood exports, with exports totalling €75 million in 2022, a significant increase on previous years. I am using the opportunity of this trade mission to meet with Irish companies and their partners and prospective partners to further our presence in Korea, a country with very significant export growth potential for Ireland.”
The Minister’s main priority today was a key meeting with Mr So Byung Hoon, member of the National Assembly and Chairman of the Agriculture Committee. Progressing the Irish beef application which was submitted to the National Assembly by the Korean Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in May 2021, is a priority for the whole of government trade mission.
Following the meeting Minister McConalogue said:
“My main priority this week is to further progress the beef market access application. I see the expansion of markets for Irish beef as crucial for the further development of our beef sector. My department has worked intensively with their Korean counterparts over the last few years to complete all the necessary technical steps to get to this stage.
"In advance and anticipation of my bilateral meeting today, the issue of Irish beef access was discussed by the Korean Parliament’s Agriculture Committee this week. Although, this is a valuable move forward, my specific request of Mr So was that this file completes the required Parliamentary process without delay. I was delighted to secure a commitment from Mr. So that he will move to have this stage completed by the end of this year. This would clear the way for the final stage in the process which is approval of the Irish beef plants who wish to export to Korea.
"To help secure delivery of this commitment, and following my discussions with the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar this matter will also be raised on Friday with the President of Korea.“
Earlier, the first event of the day for Minister McConalogue, was at a Team Ireland Korea Business Breakfast, a joint event with Minister Simon Coveney, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. This was a networking event for Enterprise Ireland client companies, their Korean partners and key contacts in the Korean market including in the area of agritech.
The Minister also held meetings with Irish food companies and potential importers facilitated by Bord Bia. This included a visit to the Majang Market where Minister McConalogue together with Bord Bia saw first hand the operation of Korea’s domestic and imported meat sectors with a range of Korean processors, importers, wholesalers and retailers.
The visit continues tomorrow with the Minister undertaking promotional engagements with the Korean horse racing sector, some business promotional events with Bord Bia together with Korean buyers and Irish exporters.
Photo captions:
Minister McConalogue and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine delegation meeting Mr So Byung Hoon, member of the National Assembly and Chairman of the Agriculture Committee.