Welsh lamb may be put on the table in China.

<P> Welsh meat industry last week received a "golden ticket": China's trade representatives met to discuss the Welsh meat exporters a deal, the transaction may contribute to China, the world's largest consumer market for imported Wales .mutton. .</ P> <P> the deal could be worth millions of pounds of meat suppliers participate in the discussions, including Vion, RandallParkerFoods and Dunbia. .</ P> <P> the meeting at the Islamic Will County Llanelwedd Shibo livestock Royal Welsh Show (RoyalWelshShow) held. .At the meeting, Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) • Gwyn Howells, Chief Executive Officer (GywnHowells) input opt to seize on the quality of Chinese food and the growing interest in fine cuisine that make a big fuss. .HCC is responsible for the promotion of Welsh red meat industry body. .Howells Welsh meat to countries such as Australia and New Zealand to the mass market strategies were compared. .Australia and New Zealand lamb has been supplied to China. .</ P> <P> Howells said: "We want to work in the Chinese market to find high-value niche markets. We do not seek direct competition with Australia and New Zealand and other countries, because from the perspective of quality and origin ., we provide a different meat. "</ P> <P> International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecast that China's economy will grow 10.5% this year, next year will grow by 9.6%, whereby exporters Wales .hope that the Beijing-Shanghai and other Chinese cities wage growth, many Chinese people will drive increased spending in the high-quality meat. .</ P> <P> any deal reached with China are the export of Wales will bring a welcome boost. .According to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) data show that last year, exports fell by 15.4% in Wales, to 90 billion pounds. .</ P> <P> the first quarter of this year, while exports to 20 billion pounds, the chain fell 8.7% year on year decline was 10%. .</ P> <P> Wales meat exports remained relatively stable. .Last year, food and livestock exports grew by 14%, to 1.3 billion pounds. .But the first quarter of this year, exports fell by 28% to 26 million pounds. .This shows that many companies in the industry is still facing severe economic conditions, particularly in the business has always been a light in the first quarter. .</ P> <P> April of this year, Dutch company Vion branches - WelshCountryFoods confirmed that the decline in domestic demand, and its meat processing plant in Anglesey will lay off 181 people. .</ P> <P> Vion lamb procurement managers Price • Morgan (PrysMorgan) participated in the meeting of Powys County, and said a deal with China, not only would enhance job security, but also to create .a domino effect, and promote economic growth in Wales. ."Any deal reached by the existing jobs will play a security role, and we have a market, the more we sell the products, the more opportunities," he said. .</ P> <P> According to HCC, said, France is the country imports most Welsh lamb, imported last year amounted to £ 77,000,000. .Belgium, Italy and Germany are also major importers of Welsh lamb. .</ P> <P> Middle East and other parts of Asia, demand is also growing. .Welsh lamb exports to Hong Kong, from almost zero in 2007, up from last year about 50 million pounds. .Welsh lamb Dubai orders last year increased by 75% or more. .</ P> <P> Howells said: "In the past week, our government officials in Beijing have started the negotiations, this is an optimistic signal that things will move forward." </ P> .<P> "Obviously, this will take some time, but we hope to reach a deal quickly, and then, we can provide meat to China. This is the long-term sustainability of the Welsh meat industry is essential." < ./ P>.