Regardless of the outcome of the Meeting in Brussels on Lisbon Treaty guarantees for Ireland, Europe is critical to the success of Irish exports, state Irish Exporters Association (IEA).

The IEA teams up with the Irish Farmers Association to stress the importance of Europe to the Agri-food sector, stating: "For every pound of Kerrygold bought by an Irish household seven times that is bought by German households."

The Irish Exporters Association today launched its campaign to expand trade with Europe by focusing on the agri-food sector. IFA President Padraig Walshe presented IEA President Liam Shanahan with a tray of seven pounds of Kerrygold butter to signify that for every pound of butter bought by an Irish household, seven times that is purchased by German households.

Speaking in the city centre Mr. Shanahan said "As the focus on how we will put our economy back on track intensifies, we find two words at the centre of the discussion- Exports and Europe."

Padraig Walshe, President of the Irish Farmer's Association said "Never has it been more important for us to focus our attention on what we can produce in this country and never has it been so important to pay attention to our day to day relationships with our customers and trading partners across the largest and most stable market that is available to us right now, called Europe."

"Today 80% of Irish dairy production is exported, making a substantial contribution to the Irish economy. Kerrygold has become Ireland's true internationally known food brand, sold in 60 countries worldwide, with 32% of exports going to the UK and 48% to other countries", he added.

"In a Smart Economy, we need to produce more added value and more global  brands" Liam Shanahan stated. "We have the major single EU market which in the  eurozone effectively acts as a large home market with the critical mass market needed for major brand development. Let us remind ourselves as exporters that we now have tariff free access to a single market of 460 million consumers. Our access to the EU common market allows us to be optimistic, with new member states such as Poland providing significant opportunities for Irish exporters. It is predicted that the new EU member states will provide exporters of €13.5 billion for Irish companies by 2012, much of this in the agri-food sector."

In 1973, Ireland's joining of the EEC was the catalyst which enabled the Irish Dairy Board to launch its Kerrygold brand into the German market, where it has since become the leading butter brand. This was also the year that Joe McGough, Chief Executive of the Irish Dairy Board, took up the position of President of the Irish Exporters Association.

ENDS

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