UK seafood businesses are being encouraged to explore expanding export opportunities in Asia as Seafish and the Department for Business and Trade highlight growing demand in South Korea and Vietnam.
With both countries showing an appetite for high quality imported fish and shellfish – and trade agreements in place to support UK exporters – the organisations are hosting a series of ‘meet the buyer’ events across the UK.
The initiative will bring seafood importing companies from Vietnam and South Korea to meet British exporters face-to-face. Representatives from Thailand and Australia will also attend to discuss opportunities in their markets.
“These ‘meet the buyer’ events provide a fantastic opportunity for UK seafood businesses to engage directly with serious buyers from growing overseas markets,” said Andy Gray, trade engagement manager at Seafish.
“Vietnam and South Korea in particular are showing increasing demand for premium imported seafood and this inward mission allows our industry to meet with importers from Asia and build trading relationships without the cost and time commitment that is often incurred by UK companies if having to travel overseas to prospect for potential new customers.
“We strongly encourage businesses of all sizes to attend and explore what could be significant new export opportunities.”
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The visiting delegation will tour four UK locations to gain insight into the domestic seafood sector and meet directly with exporters to explore potential business partnerships.
DBT representatives will attend to offer export guidance, joined by UK Agriculture, Food and Drink Attachés from British Embassies in Hanoi and Seoul.
Events take place in Peterhead (9 March), Manchester (11 March), Grimsby (12 March) and London (13 March).
