Agri-Food
In 2015, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Ireland's network of Embassies and Consulates supported the opening of new markets for Irish food and food products and the pursuit of the sustainable growth targets set out in the Food Wise 2025 national industry development strategy.
Food Wise 2025 sets out overall growth projections for the agri-food sector for the next decade, including an increase in exports of 85% to €19 billion by 2025. Exports in this sector in 2015 amounted to €10.8 billion and increase of 3%. This is the 6th consecutive year of export growth in this sector. The US remains the second largest market after the UK, with exports growing by 40% to an estimated €755 million. There continues to be strong growth in exports to China and the Middle East, exports growing by 16% and 12% respectively. International amulets accounted for 28% of total Irish agri-food exports in 2015.
These new markets, with growing middle class populations and increasing levels of disposable income, will provide significant growth opportunities for Ireland's agri-food and drinks sectors in the coming years.
Our Embassy and Consulate network also facilitated several successful trade missions during 2015. These sought to enhance trade promotion and develop market access to markets outside the EU, including to the United States, China, the Gulf States, Algeria and West Africa.
In each case, participating Irish companies were provided with an opportunity to consolidate existing trade relationships and increase their profile in new key markets which have been identified as holding high potential for them. The West Africa mission in particular offered Irish food companies an opportunity to showcase their produce to a large and emerging market outside of our more traditional export destinations.