Dairy Council for Northern Ireland announces Year 1 success of dairy export programme

The Dairy Council for Northern Ireland has announced the results of an independent evaluation of its dairy export programme.
By The Newsroom
Published 13th Apr 2016, 14:40 BST
Updated 13th Apr 2016, 14:42 BST
Dr Mike Johnston (second left) Chief Executive of the Dairy Council for Northern Ireland (DCNI), Ian McCluggage, CAFRE (first left) and Dr John Fay, Director, CAFRE (first right) are pictured with a group of overseas buyers from Taiwan, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates at CAFRE. The buyers visited Northern Ireland as part of the programme jointly funded by DCNI and the EU aimed at growing export revenue by helping dairy companies to identify potential new customers.Dr Mike Johnston (second left) Chief Executive of the Dairy Council for Northern Ireland (DCNI), Ian McCluggage, CAFRE (first left) and Dr John Fay, Director, CAFRE (first right) are pictured with a group of overseas buyers from Taiwan, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates at CAFRE. The buyers visited Northern Ireland as part of the programme jointly funded by DCNI and the EU aimed at growing export revenue by helping dairy companies to identify potential new customers.
Dr Mike Johnston (second left) Chief Executive of the Dairy Council for Northern Ireland (DCNI), Ian McCluggage, CAFRE (first left) and Dr John Fay, Director, CAFRE (first right) are pictured with a group of overseas buyers from Taiwan, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates at CAFRE. The buyers visited Northern Ireland as part of the programme jointly funded by DCNI and the EU aimed at growing export revenue by helping dairy companies to identify potential new customers.

Generating £2,950,000 in dairy sales outside the EU, the first year of the three year programme showed a return of 14:1 on an investment of £205,000, far outstripping targets. Indeed in year one the programme has exceeded the 4:1 target set on the entire programme budget of £480,000.

The programme, which is 50% funded by the EU, was launched last year to support Northern Ireland dairy sales across South East Asia, Middle East and Russia.

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As part of the programme, local dairy companies have had the opportunity to exhibit a range of local products to international markets, including attending and exhibiting last year in SIAL China which had over 2,700 international exhibitors

Commenting on the result of Y1, Dr Mike Johnston, Chief Executive DCNI, said: “The premise for this programme was to help NI dairy companies to identify new customers in the target regions, and to start doing business with them. Y1 sales through the programme have far surpassed our expectations, and have built a solid foundation for the programme’s progression over the next two years.”

An integral aspect of the dairy export programme is to develop trading channels between Northern Ireland and markets overseas and to create long-term, sustainable relationships with international companies.

Related topics:Northern IrelandRussia