Read the following article from UTV Ireland (utv.ie) about a Glanbia plant opening in Kilkenny. Answer the accompanying questions.
NEW €235M GLANBIA PLANT
OPENS IN KILKENNY By Zara King
Taoiseach Enda Kenny officially opened Glanbia’s new flagship dairy facility in the south east on Thursday afternoon.
Located just five minutes from Waterford City, the €235 million nutritional ingredients plant in Belview, Co. Kilkenny, is the largest dairy investment in the history of the State.
Glanbia expects its €180 million dairy processing plant at Belview Port to create up to 1,600 jobs and contribute €400 million per year to the Irish economy.
1. How is the new plant expected to benefit the local economy?
The plant is focused on exports, as Ireland currently supplies 10% of the global infant milk formula. The volume of these exports to mainland China alone doubled last year. Glanbia currently exports to over 50 countries worldwide and anticipates huge growth in the area.
2. What challenges might Glanbia face in exporting infant milk formula to the Chinese market?
