16/03/2012

Ministers Push For Agri-Food Strategy Board Members

People have been reminded that they have just a few days left to submit applications to become a member of the new Agri-Food Strategy Board.

The Board will be made of up both industry and senior Government officials and its purpose is to develop a strategic plan for the agri-food sector up to 2020. The search for Board Members follows the recent appointment of Tony O’Neill as the new independent Chairperson of the Agri-food Strategy Board.

The closing date for applications for Board Members is noon on Tuesday 20th March 2012.

Encouraging people to apply the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Arlene Foster and Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Michelle O’Neill said: "Developing a strategic plan for the agri-food sector is included in the Executive's Programme for Government and the potential of the sector is clearly recognised in the Executive's Economic Strategy. There is a significant job to be done in helping to realise the enormous opportunities available to this important sector."

The Ministers continued: "We are now reaching the final stages of setting up the Board which will take forward this important piece of work. We have always said this is to be an industry led process and we need the best people in the industry to put themselves forward for consideration. The Board needs to be made up of committed individuals with the skills, attitudes and new ideas to drive this work and the sector forward. This is very much an opportunity for industry to have its say and to determine its growth ambitions over the longer-term and we are encouraging those who want to be part of that future to apply."

(CD)

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