John Browne T.D., Irish Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine & Natural Resources, today met with the Chinese Vice-Minister for Fisheries, Minister. P. ChangCheng in Beijing to discuss trade between the two nations, particularly in the seafood area. The meeting was a key event in Minister Browne''s programme to promote Irish export opportunities in China.
"The prospects for increasing trade in seafood between Ireland and China are very promising. Already Ireland through our development agency BIM, has been developing a very strong relationship with the China Aquatic Products Processing and Marketing Association (CAPPMA). I believe that this relationship can be further built upon to the benefit of both nations," commented Minister Browne while meeting Minister ChangCheng.
China is currently considered to be the best seafood market opportunity in the world. As living standards are increasing, demand for seafood is soaring. China has tripled imports of seafood products in the past six years to more than $3.2 billion per year and the growth shows no signs of slowing. It is estimated that consumption of seafood products will increase by 80% within the next five years.
Minister Browne's visit builds on the visit last November of a delegation of seven Irish seafood processing companies, who travelled to China to investigate new opportunities for Irish seafood. The visit was co-ordinated by BIM and the cross border Seafood Development Programme (SDP) and incorporated a series of factory visits followed by participation in the first all-Ireland pavilion at the 2006 China Fisheries and Seafood Expo.
"I understand that a delegation from China will attend this year's European Seafood Exposition in Brussels and I would like to also invite a delegation to attend the World Seafood Congress, which is being held in Dublin for the first time ever, from 25th - 28th September at Croke Park. There is enormous potential for further growth in our trade relations and I hope that today's meeting will open up new opportunities for Irish businesses to supply more quality Irish seafood products to China," concluded the Minister.
