The Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan, is leading a high-level delegation of Irish food producers and exporters to St Petersburg for a three-day promotion of Irish food and drinks companies organised by An Bord Bia.
She is to launch Bord Bia's new programme to develop market opportunities for Irish beef and pork in Russia's rapidly developing new supermarket sector where, for the first time, chilled Irish meat is now being sold directly to Russian consumers and identified as Irish.
While the bulk of Irish meat exports to Russia will continue to consist of frozen boneless product, the development of the market for chilled meat will allow Ireland to move up the value chain and establish a niche market which is less exposed to competitive pressures from South America.
Irish food and drink exports to Russia were valued at over €130 million last year. Meat products accounted for €90 million. The other main food items exported were beverages, seafood and infant formula.
Representatives from Ireland's top export food companies will be taking part in the marketing drive which aims to take advantage of the growing affluence in Russia and its increasing demand for food exports.
"Russia's strong economic growth and increasing development is leading to new opportunities," said Angela Kennedy, chairman of Bord Bia yesterday. "The market is changing with the ongoing development of a dynamic new retailing sector. This offers great new opportunities for Russian consumers, Russian retailers and Irish farmers and exporters. We believe we can expand the range of wholesome Irish food products available to Russia."
Beef exports for the first five months of this year, at 6,000 tonnes, are down from 14,600 tonnes on the corresponding period for 2004.
This decline is caused by an administrative delay with the new EU single veterinary certificate, lower export availability, and competitive supplies from South America.
While in Russia, the Minister is expected to enter negotiations with officials there to see if there can be any speeding up of the process imposed on EU beef imports because of a row over BSE.
The level of Irish beef exports is expected to pick up for the remainder of the year in line with increased availability.