Smith: Bord Bia’s New York offices beef up presence in America

BORD Bia has opened new offices in New York beefing up Ireland’s presence in the US.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Brendan Smith said the opening of the New York office was a major step up.

“Having operated for the past seven years out of Chicago, the Bord Bia decision to build on this by a full permanent presence in Ireland House in New York represents a strong vote of confidence in the potential of Irish food and drink in the hugely important US market,” he said when he officially opened the new facility.

The office is located in central Manhattan in the same building as the Irish Consulate, and other government agencies such as Enterprise Ireland and Tourism Ireland and will ensure a fully joined up and synergistic relationship between all Irish Government agencies operating in the region.

Minister Smith is leading a week-long Enterprise Ireland investment and trade promotional mission in the US.

Speaking at the opening of the Bord Bia office, he said his visit to a number of US cities had been very productive and valuable. He said he had met at the highest level with both Irish-based US companies and US food companies with major operations in Ireland, including some of the largest US food companies with the potential for further investment in Ireland. He also met with a number of smaller companies who are actively looking at Ireland as a location for new investment.

“The value of Ireland-US trade cannot be under-stated when one considers that, last year, Ireland enjoyed a healthy trade surplus for agri-food products of almost €188 million with the US. Indeed, Irish agri-food exports to the US last year were worth €440m, of which beverages and dairy products accounted for almost 90% of the value of Irish exports.

During his visit, Minister Smith visited with Kerry Foods, representatives of Glanbia, the Irish Dairy Board, Socius Ingredients (partners to Lakeland Dairies) and Synergy Flavours, partners of Carbery.

Minister Smith said that he had found the series of meetings with very senior management from the various companies to be “positive and constructive, notwithstanding the current global economic circumstances”.

The minister said: “At a time when the United States presents a significant export outlet for Irish agri-food products and US companies provide very important employment opportunities at home, visits of this nature are particularly helping to develop new market and employment opportunities.”