Irish whiskey set to make lucrative India breakthrough

Irish whiskey could soon gains access to India, the world’s largest whiskey market.

The news follows a meeting between Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday.

Import tariffs of up to 500% have kept foreign spirit-makers out of the lucrative Indian market.

But India is coming under massive pressure from the EU, US and now Ireland to reduce tariffs.

Indian drinkers consume 112 million cases of whiskey a year, with just 1% of this coming from outside India. Ireland produces close to five million cases a year and six million cases of Baileys Cream Liqueur.

The Taoiseach is in India leading a week-long trade mission of more than 80 companies, accompanied by Mr Martin, Education Minister Mary Hanafin and Arts, Sport and Tourism Minister John O’Donoghue.