Poultry businesses from France, Germany, the Netherlands and Poland are joining a high profile EU export trade mission this week to Hong Kong, Vietnam and Indonesia, led by European Agriculture Commissioner, Phil Hogan.
The only UK body included in the visit, however, is the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) whose remit doesn’t extend to eggs or poultry.
The mission, which begins tomorrow, November 1, is part of a €100 million (£90m) EU-based agri-food products initiative, designed to build new export links around the world.
Key poultry sector “tourists”, include representatives from:
- European Live Poultry and Hatching Egg Association (ELPHA) and European Poultry Breeders (EPB);
- AVEC (LDC Group France/ FIA Paris);
- DOUX SA, France;
- Landgeflügel FG Vertriebsgesellschaft, Germany;
- Dutch Association for Poultry Processing Industries (NEPLUVI), Netherlands;
- Krajowa Rada Drobiarstwa – Izba Gospodarcza (The National Poultry Council – Chamber of Commerce), Poland.
“I’m continuing my ‘diplomatic offensive’ of 2016 by visiting Vietnam,” said Mr Hogan (pictured above). “With a population of 90 million, Vietnam is a fast-growing and dynamic economy, with huge potential to continue growing in the coming years.”
The commissioner added that the total turnover of the European companies whose representatives will be taking part in the mission, is in excess of €170 billion (£150bn).
“Importantly, there are producer groups and cooperatives heavily represented, so that the European farmer can have a direct route to global markets,” he said. “They will be meeting buyers and potential business partners in order to highlight the quality of our products and introduce to importers and authorities the stories and values behind our agricultural production.”
The Commissioner’s planned programme includes meetings with the Prime Minister of Vietnam, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and the country’s agriculture and health ministers. Mr Hogan is also due to meet the Head of the Indonesian National Agency for Drugs and Food Control and the Secretary for Food and Health of Hong-Kong.
