A roadshow was held in Dublin on Monday to invite Irish businesses to participate in the upcoming 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE). The event was jointly organized by the CIIE Bureau and the Chinese Embassy in Ireland.
Almost 100 Irish business representatives attended the roadshow, where they learned about the opportunities available to them at the CIIE. Wang Jiabao, commercial counselor at the Chinese embassy, said that the CIIE is a major platform for China to share its vast market with the world. He noted that the value of Irish whiskey exported to China has increased by nearly six times since the first CIIE in 2018.
China is now Ireland’s fifth-largest export market, and largest trading partner in the Asia-Pacific region. Deputy director of CIIE Bureau Liu Fuxue said that many new Irish products, technologies, and services have successfully entered the Chinese market through the Expo.
Shane Hamill, director of global business development for the Irish Food Board, said that China is a priority market for the Irish food and drink sector. He noted that Irish food and drink exports to China were worth over 680 million euros (728 million U.S. dollars) last year.
During a visit to Beijing and Shanghai earlier this month, Hamill said that it was “crystal clear” that “there are more opportunities and shared growth than ever before.”
Seven Irish companies and organizations, including Accenture and Powerscourt Distillery, signed cooperation contracts with CIIE Bureau at the event.
The 6th CIIE will be held in Shanghai from November 5 to 10.
