With over one billion citizens and an annual economic growth rate of around 7%, India represents a truly lucrative market for a range of products and industries, including meat and livestock.
The Northern Ireland processor – which operates within the beef, pork and lamb verticals – confirmed the first shipment of pork to India had set sail earlier this week.
More shipments are expected to leave the company’s Ballymena meat plant in the coming months, although an official figure is yet to be published.
Profitable relationship
“This shipment represents a significant opportunity for Dunbia and our pig farmers and is the beginning of what we hope will be a long and profitable relationship with India, which is one of the largest and fastest-growing economies in the world,” said Dunbia CEO Jim Dobson.
“The first container has been very well received by our Indian customers and we are currently consolidating further containers for shipment.
“We have been working closely with Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) Minister Michelle O’Neill to secure new markets for Northern Ireland beef and pork,” added Dobson.
‘Exploit every opportunity’
“In addition to India, Canada has also been secured for beef exports, while Dunbia has recently received provisional approval for exports to China. These markets have been secured through a co-ordinated approach, which has seen industry and government working together towards a shared goal.
“It is all very positive news for the Northern Ireland agri-food industry and bodes very well for the future, but we cannot rest on our laurels. We need to exploit every opportunity and seek further new markets, such as the US, Philippines and Australia.”
News of Northern Ireland’s first shipment of pork to the world’s seventh-largest economy, according to CNN Money, came on the same day as the Republic of Ireland reported a 2% fall in pork exports.