News in brief: Ireland Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue will travel to Nigeria and Senegal to develop political and economic relationships and promote Irish food and drink exports as well as create new opportunities for Irish businesses.
Irish Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue will travel to Nigeria and Senegal this week as part of a trade mission to West Africa.
The visit is aimed at developing political and economic relationships in the region, as well as promoting Irish food and drink exports. It will include representatives of Ireland’s food board, Bord Bia; Ireland’s international enterprises agency, Enterprise Ireland; Sustainable Foods Systems Ireland; and Irish embassies in both countries. Also, 15 Irish companies will participate in the visit, according to the news report.
Minister McConalogue said that he was looking forward to exploring the opportunities to enhance Ireland’s economic relationship with west Africa because of a growing demand for high-quality food and drink. He added that the trade mission is an opportunity to enhance cooperation on global challenges like food security, climate change, and environmental adaptation.
Bord Bia CEO Jim O’Toole said that Ireland is building a strong trade relationship in agri-food with the West African region. He noted that the value of Irish food and drink exports to west Africa has increased from â¬227 million in 2018 to â¬578 million in 2022.
Ireland boasts of having high-quality, safe, sustainably-produced food, seafood and beverages in abundance to meet demand in the West African region. The trade mission is expected to raise the profile of Irish food and drink in the region and create new opportunities for Irish businesses.
