Kenyan Agribusiness Visit to Ireland June 2016
In June 2016, a high-level Kenyan agribusiness delegation travelled to Ireland to explore the potential for partnerships, both in the public and private sector, and gain insight into the extensive development of the Irish agriculture sector.
Ireland's agri-food industry is a key component of the Irish economy, accounting for 8% of GDP, with over 160,000 jobs. The sector is responsible for a major proportion of Irish exports and its products are sold in over 170 markets around the world. Annual food output exceeds €16 billion, and the sector contributes €7 billion in exports to Ireland’s economy. The wealth of Ireland's experience in food and in agri-processing is unparalleled in Europe and is predicted to create up to 25,000 jobs through the attainment of Food Harvest 2020 targets and the Food Wise 2025 strategies.
The objective of the visit, which took place from 13th-17th June 2016, was to give the Kenyan delegation the opportunity to develop business understanding and partnerships in Ireland, both in the public and private sector. The focus, which was on food processing and value addition in dairy, beef and agriculture, resonates well with Kenya, where the agricultural sector is part of a vital backbone to the economy. The competitive advantage Ireland has developed and its adherence to best practice and international standards, provides an excellent case study from which individual entrepreneurs and the Kenyan economy as a whole, can learn.
The Kenyan delegation was co-led by H.E. Dr Vincent O’Neill, Ambassador of Ireland to Kenya and Dr Christopher Kiptoo, Principal Secretary (International Trade), Ministry for Industry, Trade and Co-operatives of Kenya. The delegation was composed of representatives from the government and private sector. This included representatives from the Office of the Deputy President, Kenya Investment Authority, Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry- KNCCI, Kenya Private Sector Alliance, Kenya Association of Manufacturers and entrepreneurs in agribusiness.
In Ireland, the delegation visited and interacted with a diverse range of stakeholders in the agribusiness sector. This included visits to Teagasc food research centres in Ashtown, Kilkenny and Moorepark; and meetings with Arrabawn Coop, ABP Group for Beef, Dawn Farms, University College Cork, the Irish Exporters Association, Enterprise Ireland, IBEC, and finally, the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine.
An important aspect of the visit, was the delegation’s participation at the Africa Ireland Economic Forum (AIEF), held in the Convention Centre Dublin, on 17th June 2016. The AIEF, which is the flagship event of the Irish Government’s Africa Strategy, included a key note speech by Mr. Charles Boamah of the African Development Bank, a high profile panel discussion of economic developments and opportunities in Africa, followed by three parallel sector discussions in the areas of agribusiness, Energy and Clean Tech, and Aviation & Aerospace – areas where Ireland has specialist expertise and Africa has enormous potential.
Key lessons learnt from the visit include the potential for value addition in agro-processing, the value/role for research in agriculture, and the synergy between the different sub-sectors and organizations mandated with maintaining the continuation of the overall agribusiness sector. A Kenyan newspaper noted that “Ireland used a combination of an efficient production business model, intense cooperation between agencies and the private sector, value addition and subsidies to become the food-basket of Europe”. These are the very lessons the Kenyan delegation are keen to adopt and implement.
In a separate interview, the Ambassador highlighted that, the reopening of the Irish Embassy in Kenya in 2014 “redefined its relationship with Africa to share in the emerging economic opportunities and in facilitating Kenyan companies to enter the Irish market and Irish companies to invest in Kenya”. This realization is well underway, with immense business networks currently being established, with an objective of benefiting both countries by enhancing two way trade. In relation to this, Enterprise Ireland has organised a series of business meetings in Kenya with the aim to solidify business interests with Kenyan business partners. Similarly, Teagasc and KARLO have signed a MoU in areas of collaboration, with the visit revitalising the commitment between the two research centres.
Subsequent media coverage of the visit in a Kenyan newspaper was keen to highlight that research and safety in food processing is absolutely necessary to ensure a country’s competitive advantage - “We are also carrying out research on various packaging models that our industrialists can use to ensure their products remain safe and fresh for longer,” said Mr Declan Bolton, a principal research officer at Teagasc. It was noted that this was a key element towards enhancing a collaborative and consistent approach in gaining a client’s trust.
In summary, the visit was an eye opener that offered the Kenyan delegation the opportunity to experience and learn from the extensive development of the agriculture sector in Ireland. There is great enthusiasm and a renewed commitment by the Kenyan Government, through the help of the Irish Embassy in Nairobi, to increase trade in all the sectors of the economy. It is now clear that the agriculture sector will act as a strong base to kick-start this journey to prosperity, for our two great nations.