EU funding to grow dairy exports from Northern Ireland

Dairy exporters in Northern Ireland are being encouraged to grow international sales by the EU.

The Dairy Council for Northern Ireland has secured EU funding which will allow it to undertake export support and sustainability programmes with a value of £3 million both at home and abroad over the next three years.

The latest funding will support the promotion of Northern Ireland dairy product exports to countries in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, while another sum is for a joint programme with the European Milk Forum to promote industry sustainability.

Dairy Council chief executive Dr Mike Johnston says: "Just as the current export programme was the first across all agri-food sectors in UK to get funding, these new export programmes were the only UK applications to be approved.

"That is very gratifying for our producers and processors as it is indicative of European confidence in our success to date."

Dr Johnston said the council had been able to demonstrate export sales of Northern Ireland dairy products of almost £7 million as a direct result of an earlier funding round.

"We are delighted, therefore, to be in a position to continue with this work.

"With projections suggesting that global demand for dairy products will continue to grow, this funding will help to develop the work we have already undertaken and allow us to reach out further to developing markets in Southeast Asia."

Approval of around £1 million has been given for work in the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia and UAE, while more than £1 million has been allocated to work over three years in seven countries in Southeast Asia.

Pic Caption: Dr Mike Johnston, left, chief executive of the Dairy Council for Northern Ireland, pictured with chairman Mark Bleloch, chairman.