To ask the Minister for the Economy what financial support his Department provides for agri-food businesses in Northern Ireland to attend international trade shows.

My Department, through Invest NI, provides a range of financial and non-financial support to growth-focussed agri-food businesses to visit or exhibit at international trade shows as part of an overall strategic growth plan.

Financial assistance is available to NI businesses to either exhibit as part of a Northern Ireland Group Stand or exhibit independently and may include assistance toward flights and accommodation. Businesses can also access support and guidance from Invest NI staff based at 24 locations around the world and through its Trade Advisory Service, agri-food exporters can access a global network of experts to carry out targeted and strategic market research. In addition, agri-food businesses have access to Invest NI’s Business Information Centre, which holds a wide range of market intelligence and research reports.