This is one of several ministerial trade missions taking place in 2026, according to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). The locations and details of these trade missions are currently being finalised.
In collaboration with Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland, Minister of State at the DAFM, Noel Grealish will lead a trade mission to the UAE from January 26-29. The central focus of this trade mission will be the Gulfood food and beverage exhibition in Dubai, which is the largest food and beverage trade exhibition in the world. There, a number of key stakeholder and client engagements are planned, according to the DAFM.
China reopens
Meanwhile, there was good news for the beef sector this week with the announcement that Irish beef market access to China has reopened following suspension in October 2024. Bord Bia is set to commence a relaunch campaign to coincide with Chinese New Year, which starts on February 17.
Sinead Kennedy, Bord Bia China manager explained that Bord Bia had continuously engaged with Chinese importers, many of whom remain committed to working with Irish suppliers to develop opportunities in both foodservice and retail. “With the resumption of exports, we can now dial up our activities in China. This includes promotional activities under Bord Bia's €3.45m EU-funded campaign to promote beef and lamb, which has already been launched in Japan and Singapore.”
Bord Bia's office in Shanghai will officially relaunch Irish beef to the market in February for Chinese New Year (February 17 to March 3) with key customers, Irish beef companies and Chinese trade media. Following this, the EU co-funded beef and lamb campaign will commence in Beijing in March. In the months following, there will be industry engagements for the B2B community with chef demonstrations on how to cook Irish beef, plus the presence of Irish beef at China's largest food and drink trade fair, SIAL, in May.