February 13, 2009

A major push by British Pig Executive (BPEX) and the British Pig Association (BPA) is under way to get breeding pigs and pork into Far Eastern markets.

BPEX head of exports J.P. Garnier said China and the Fareast are the most vibrant regions for the trade of pork and pig genetics at the moment.

Garnier said UK is already the undisputed market leader with pig genetics on these markets and have recently won some major contracts in the region, where exports of pork to Hong Kong have more than tripled in 2008.

He added that the UK wants to build on the high reputation for the quality of their products and that they are also planning buyers' visits from Taiwan to England in the autumn.

BPEX and BPA will have major presence at six international shows as part of joint marketing programme, supported by UK Trade and Investment.

Both organisations together with major British pig breeding companies will attend the VIV Asia exhibition in Bangkok in March.

At the event, delegations from six Far Eastern countries have been invited for presentation and discussions on British breeding pigs.

In May, a strong British representation will attend the exhibition of China Agriculture Association in Chengdu, southwestern China and a forum on British breeding stock and in June pork will be will be presented at the Hofex exhibition in Hong Kong.

In early September, the World Pork and Meat Congresses and an exhibition organised by China's Meat Association in Qingdao, eastern Shandong, will be attended by delegations from BPEX, BPA and the British pork sector.