EU Vietnam trade deal to boost Irish exports

The EU's trade deal with Vietnam will boost Irish export opportunities according to Ireland's Seán Kelly MEP, one of a small number of MEPs who took part in a trade mission to Vietnam in recent days.

As a representative of the European Parliament's Trade Committee, Mr Kelly was particularly keen to seek out Irish export opportunities: "Vietnam is a country of 90 million people, and like Southeast Asia in general, it has a rapidly growing middle class. That will equate to an increase in western living trends which will also mean the adoption of some western food and eating habits.

"Many Irish food businesses I have spoken to recognise the conclusion of the EU's Free Trade Agreement with the Southeast Asian country this year as a huge opportunity, especially with the elimination of 99 percent of tariffs and non-tariff barriers. It will be much easier for Irish exporters of dairy and livestock food products, such as skimmed-milk, cheese and meats like pork and beef. Kerry Group, Glanbia etc will have huge opportunities here," Mr Kelly said.

"What is important is that Ireland gets into this market first because often those suppliers who get a firm foothold in a market early on tend to do best," Kelly added.

"The Free Trade Agreement with Vietnam is good news for Europe and good news for Ireland - it just needs to be implemented soon and we need to search out and seize the opportunities it brings," the MEP added.

Mr Kelly took part in several high-profile bi-lateral meetings in Vietnam including talks with Mr Vu Huy Hoang, Minister of Industry and Trade in Vietnam, Mr Tran Quoc Khanh, Vice-Minister of Industry and Trade and Mr Tran Van Hang, Chairman of the National Assembly Committee for Foreign Affairs in Vietnam.