Taoiseach’s visit to Japan is an opportunity for Limerick farmers and food producers

Added December 2nd, 2013

Fine Gael TD for Limerick, Patrick O’Donovan has said that the visit of the Taoiseach and the Minister for Agriculture to Japan this week is a hugely important opportunity for Irish companies to break into new markets and as a result help create more jobs here.

Patrick O’Donovan said that the fact that Enda Kenny was being accompanied by Simon Coveney was of particular significance to rural constituencies like Limerick, because the Minister will be trying to open new markets for Irish food products to Japanese consumers.

“Japan is a major market for exporting countries like Ireland. With over 125 million people there is huge potential for the producers of safe and traceable food, and that is the opportunity that exists for Ireland and Irish farmers and processors. Here in Limerick our local economy is very dependent on agriculture and related businesses, and therefore any expansion of markets for produce from Limerick farms in Japan will benefit Limerick farmers and the Limerick economy.”

Patrick O’Donovan wished Enda Kenny and Simon Coveney well on the trade mission during which the Taoiseach will meet the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, together with business and other political leaders in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka. He said that the Government had already succeeded in opening up new markets in the Middle East and Africa for Irish food and agricultural produce, and he hoped that the news from the trade mission to Japan would also produce positive results and help to increase even further the number of new jobs being created in the economy, which was reported this week at over 1,500 per week.