St David's Day: Welsh farming politicians in Dubai to show off produce

Gulfood is an opportunity to promote a nation's food and drink sector on the international stage
Gulfood is an opportunity to promote a nation's food and drink sector on the international stage

The Senedd will be lit up in the colours of the Welsh flag as events are held across the country to mark St David's Day today (1 March).

But the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, will be 4,500 miles away.

She will be in Dubai to fly the flag for Wales as part of the Welsh Government’s St David’s Day 2017 celebrations at Gulfood, the world’s largest annual food trade show.

In addition to a number of engagements to promote Welsh culture and increase business links between Wales, Dubai and the wider United Arab Emirates, the Cabinet Secretary will join twenty five of Wales’ finest food and drink producers at the Gulfood Trade Show, one of the world’s largest annual food and beverage exhibitions.

The Trade Show is an opportunity to promote a nation's food and drink sector on the international stage, showcasing the work farmers do to provide the raw ingredients for such items.

The Welsh government is hopeful the show will help Welsh producers’ efforts to establish new business relationships and expand their sales into potentially lucrative new markets.

'High quality larder of produce'

During the visit, Miss Griffiths will announce she is making £2.4million available to ensure Wales remains well-represented at high profile food and drink trade events around the world over the next two years.

The Cabinet Secretary said: “St David’s Day presents us with a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our people, our history, our culture, and, of course, our high quality larder of food and drink produce.

“Wales’ food and drinks sector is a success story. We are already more than half way towards achieving our target of 30% growth in the sector by 2020, generating over £260 million from exports.

“It is important we remain an outward focused and welcoming nation. The challenges presented by a “Hard Brexit” are obvious but I am encouraged by the fact Wales’ food and drink sector is well placed to tackle the challenges we now face and grasp new opportunities.

“International exhibitions are vital in raising Wales’ international profile as they present the opportunity for Welsh businesses to prosper by entering new overseas markets. I am delighted, therefore, to confirm we are investing £2.4m over the next two years to have a strong presence at a series of important food and drink exhibitions and trade visits both in the UK and overseas including a continuation of our ongoing presence at Gulfood.”