Ireland’s food export agency Bord Bia has revealed plans to open an office in Dubai in a bid to support the doubling of exports to the Middle East.
The office will open in January 2014 and will support the Irish food and drink industry’s efforts to double exports to the Middle East by 2020, the agency said. It will focus on Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and the Gulf States, in addition to “monitoring potential opportunities” in Iran, Iraq and Jordan.
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While Bord Bia has worked with local resources for a number of years in the region, and recently placed three marketing employees there, the opening of the office, it said, marks a “significant” move in “intensifying marketing and promotional activity to support continued growth”.
The announcement was made yesterday (28 October) on the second day of an on-going trade mission to the Middle East, being led by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney. Around 60 Irish delegates are participating in the trip, representing 30 Irish food, drink and agri-service companies.
“Over the past three years, our resources and extensive market research in the Middle East has pointed to significant growth and new business opportunities for Irish food and drink exporters,” Coveney said. “Our strategy for the market is focused on delivering on the potential to increase dairy and dairy ingredient exports to the Gulf region; on broadening market access for the Irish beef and sheepmeat industry and in securing premium positioning for Irish food through high-end retail and foodservice customers.
“This new office will provide a practical solution for Irish companies seeking to enter the market by providing access to market knowledge, insight and research.”
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By GlobalDataIn 2012, Irish food and drink exports to the Middle East were valued at EUR275m (US$235.4m), according to Bord Bia, with the Gulf States (Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Kuwait & Bahrain) accounting for 70% or EUR192m.
The agency estimates Irish food and drink exports to the Middle East could double to exceed EUR500m this decade.
