The Irish government has announced that a deal has been struck that will see Kuwait open its doors to exports of Irish meat and meat products.
Ireland's agriculture minister Michael Creed, made the announcement on the government's website, saying that the deal was reached with the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition of Kuwait, welcoming future shipments of Irish beef, sheepmeat and poultry.
Last year, Irish agri-food exports to Kuwait amounted to €17.1 million, of which 93% were dairy products.
Emerging Markets
“This agreement follows on from bilateral negotiations between my Department and Kuwait, with the ongoing assistance of the Irish Embassy in Abu Dhabi, including our Agricultural Attaché in the Gulf Region who is based in the Embassy,” the minister said, welcoming the agreement.
“The opening of this new market is a reflection of the confidence held by the Kuwaiti authorities in the high standards of food safety and the rigorous controls in Ireland. It marks another important step in the development of Ireland’s agri-food links with Kuwait and with the whole Gulf region.”
In March, Ireland hosted a discovery visit for Kuwaiti officials, led by Sustainable Food Systems Ireland. The opening of the Kuwaiti market follows on from Ireland's recent approval for the export of beef, sheepmeat and poultry to Qatar.
“Details on these new markets are being added to the DAFM market access portal which I launched in May and a Trader Notice will issue shortly. Growing and developing new markets, a key theme of the Food Wise strategy, is an important response to possible Brexit impacts on the sector,” Creed added.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Aidan O'Sullivan. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
