The EU’s Agriculture and rural development Commissioner Phil Hogan will visit Iran and Saudi Arabia in November as part of his series of missions to open up new markets for EU food and drink producers.
Commissioner Hogan will be accompanied by a delegation of senior representatives from European food and drink companies and producer organisations on his visits between 7 and 12 November.
The aim of the visit is to enhance cooperation between the EU, Saudi Arabia and Iran in the field of agriculture and rural development, in particular with a view to further developing bilateral trade in agri-food products between the EU and the two Middle Eastern countries.
There will be a special business-to-business programme laid on for accompanying companies, and the EU says there is still time for companies to join the trade mission
Saudi Arabia is the EU's sixth biggest export market for agri-food products, with sales there of €4.6 billion in 2016.
Although there is little established trade in agri-food products between the EU and Iran, bilateral exchanges have increased significantly in the past year following the so-called nuclear deal with Iran that has seen the country emerge from the diplomatic sidelines.
The business delegation of senior figures from the EU agri-food sector that will accompany Commissioner Hogan on his visits will consist of representatives from the sectors with the most significant potential for trade and cooperation with Saudi Arabia and Iran.
For Saudi Arabia, this includes poultry and beef meat, dairy, fresh & frozen fruit and vegetables, olive oil, bakery, confectionery and chocolate products, cereals for human use and fodder/cereals for animal use, among others.
For Iran, the key sectors are dairy, meat (notably beef and sheep meat), olive oil, cereals and oilseeds, food and feed additives, and genetic materials (both of plant and animal origin
