Northern Ireland's Dunbia eyes success in China

Dunbia, the leading Northern Ireland headquartered meat processor, has its sights firmly set on winning business in China.

The company, based at Dungannon in county Tyrone, already exports beef and lamb to around 20 international markets and sees China as its priority target. It employs over 3,000 people at plants across the UK and Ireland.

To strengthen contacts in China, Dunbia Group executive director Jack Dobson took part in the recent UK trade mission led by Liz Truss, the minister for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Commenting on the mission, Mr Dobson says: "The visit offered an opportunity to establish new contacts and develop existing relationships in an extremely important market.

"The importance of the Chinese market cannot by over-estimated, particularly for Northern Ireland where the agri-food industry plays such a vital role in our economy. We need local government and business to work together to ensure that we develop and exploit the potential of the Chinese and indeed other markets.

'While the DEFRA-led mission was extremely beneficial, we need to ensure that Northern Ireland is well-represented and doesn't get left behind.

"There is value in every part of the animal but it is critical that we gain access to the Middle East, Africa, the BRIC nations and the US to ensure that we sell every part and ultimately get best value for our 28,000 producers. This is why trade missions to these markets are so important."