The Dairy Council for Northern Eire (DCNI) has introduced £55.6 million in new gross sales of dairy merchandise to markets in Southeast Asia and the Center East.

The council mentioned the increase in gross sales has materialised on account of the completion of a spherical of EU and DCNI-funded programmes applied in two tranches over the past six years.

The programmes obtained funding in advertising help to the worth of £2.6 million, driving gross sales in Saudi Arabia; the United Arab Emirates (UAE); China; Taiwan; Indonesia; South Korea; Malaysia; Thailand; and Japan.

Dairy Council for Northern Eire

Chief govt of the Dairy Council for Northern Eire, Mike Johnston, mentioned that whereas the programme is concluding, its legacy will present for future alternatives for the business.

“We had confidence in these export programmes from the outset,” he mentioned.

“As structured with each outward and inward missions, they ensured potential clients obtained to see first-hand the professionalism and effectivity of Northern Eire’s dairy business and the excessive EU requirements to which the dairy sector right here operates as they walked the whole NI dairy provide chain.

“Nevertheless, even our personal projections had been exceeded with the programme demonstrating a return of funding of 21.3:1; bringing outstanding worth and establishing long-term relationships upon which buying and selling channels between Northern Eire and worldwide markets can proceed to thrive.”

Johnston mentioned the help and help provided by businesses and organisations throughout the sector made success potential within the face of restrictions on programmes by Covid-19 of their closing years.

“Whereas the programmes didn’t cease totally throughout the Covid-19 period, restrictions did imply a delay with the postponement of each outward and inward missions,” he mentioned.

“All through now we have obtained invaluable help and help from our colleagues at DAERA (the Division of Agriculture, Atmosphere and Rural Affairs), FSA (Meals Requirements Company), CAFRE (School of Agriculture, Meals and Rural Enterprise) and the Institute for International Meals Safety at QUB (Queen’s College Belfast).

“We’re grateful to them and to everybody alongside the provision chain who helped us in highlighting its integrity and robustness, giving new abroad clients the arrogance and belief to supply their dairy merchandise from Northern Eire, thereby supporting our core goal of producing gross sales and, finally, contributing to the broader financial system.”