Vietnam, 1 October 2024 – Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board, launches its sixth trade mission to South East Asia, focusing on key markets in Vietnam and Thailand. On this occasion, Ireland’s Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Pippa Hackett will visit Vietnam to participate in national trade activities to raise awareness of Ireland as a source of sustainable, safe, and high-quality European food and drink.
Minister Pippa Hackett will be accompanied by Mr. Jim O’Toole, CEO of Bord Bia, representing the Irish dairy, meat, seafood, and alcohol industries. During the trip, Minister Hackett will meet representatives from the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to discuss market access issues and attend Bord Bia trade receptions with customers in the dairy, pork, and seafood sectors. Minister Hackett and Mr. O’Toole will also attend the International Food and Ingredients Exhibition (FIV) held in Ho Chi Minh City on 9 October, where Bord Bia will host a stand featuring 3 Irish dairy businesses.
Ireland aims to become a sustainable supplier of clean and high quality products in Vietnam(Image source: Bord Bia)
According to statistics, Ireland’s agricultural products are currently exported to more than 180 countries worldwide, reaching 16.3 billion euros in 2023, of which the industry’s export turnover to South East Asia reached 344 million euros, with milk and dairy products leading the way with 267 million euros. The Irish government’s Food Vision 2030 strategy to develop Ireland’s agricultural food industry sets out a clear roadmap and a desire to achieve sustainable development in the future of this sector, aiming to increase the industry’s value to 21 billion euros by 2030. In addition, in its study Prioritising Markets – Opportunities for Growth, Bord Bia has identified South East Asia, and Vietnam in particular as priority destinations for Ireland’s food and beverage export industry, especially dairy exports with high potential.
Previously, the duty-free policy for dairy products under the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the European Union (EU) and Vietnam came into effect on January 1st, 2023, marking Bord Bia’s new export strategy in the Vietnamese market. According to Minister Pippa Hackett: “Meat access is a top priority for the trade mission. After recent success in securing beef access for South Korea and China, Vietnam has become a clear target for Irish beef access. The South East Asia region, and Vietnam in particular, is an important and fast-growing market for Ireland. Through this trade promotion program, we aim to develop closer relationships with key partners in Vietnam, while enhancing Ireland’s reputation as a sustainable supplier of high-quality meat, dairy, and seafood.”
According to statistics, Vietnam is one of the potential markets for imported meat products, due to the increase in population and consumption of high-quality livestock meat. This creates new trade development opportunities for Ireland to supply agricultural products to Vietnam.
In 2022, Bord Bia was selected by the EU to launch two promotional campaigns in three years for dairy products, to expand their reach in the Vietnam market and other regions within South East Asia. The campaign is titled “EU Dairy, a Sustainable Choice for Asia” and will be introduced to the dairy trade and the media as part of this trade promotion program.
Prior to the trade mission, Ireland recently signed a partnership with Vietnam called the Ireland-Vietnam Agrifood Partnership (IVAP), which aims to support Vietnam in transforming its food system through technical assistance, knowledge sharing, training, and skills development.
Bord Bia’s CEO Jim O’Toole said: “The region’s demand for dairy and meat continues to grow, driven by the rise in consumer incomes. This trend presents significant opportunities for Ireland’s export to this market. Our goal for this trade mission is to further enhance awareness of a sustainable, safe, and high-quality supply of food and beverages from Europe among Vietnam clients and consumers”.
He also affirmed: “This trade mission marks the beginning of Bord Bia’s efforts to reinforce the promotion of Irish food and our producers to customers in Vietnam, who pay close attention to high-quality products and supply chain security. We aim to establish strong partnerships between Ireland and clients in Vietnam, and trade missions like this provide a valuable opportunity to elevate Ireland’s position as a leading food producer, bringing new business opportunities for Irish food and beverage companies.”
About Bord Bia
Bord Bia is the Irish government agency responsible for the promotion, trade development, and marketing of Ireland’s food, drink, and horticulture industries. Headquartered in Dublin, Bord Bia supports the national and international aspirations of Irish food, drink, and horticulture businesses through a highly centralized organizational structure and a network of offices in Asia, EMEA, and the US. Bord Bia’s Singapore office, led by Lisa Phelan, has been appointed Regional Director for South East Asia in 2023, to support Irish exporters focusing on the South East Asian market.
Press release distributed by EloQ Communications