At the launch of the intensified programme of ministerial-led trade missions were Minister for Jobs Enterprise and Innovation Mary Mitchell O'Connor TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Charlie Flanagan TD and Julie Sinnamon, CEO Enterprise Ireland.
Expanded international trade missions and events programme to help Irish exporters win new business and expand into new markets
Strong focus on diversification into Northern Europe, USA and High-Growth Markets
Today, 22nd July 2016: Enterprise Ireland, the Government agency responsible for helping companies to scale and export internationally, today announced details of its intensified programme of ministerial-led trade missions and events to support Irish exporters in the wake of the UK referendum for the rest of the 2016. In conjunction with the Departments of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and Foreign Affairs and Trade, Enterprise Ireland has planned 68 events between July and December 2016. This includes 26 ministerial-led trade missions for the second half of the year. In total there will be 36 ministerial-led trade missions and events in 2016 - almost double the number in 2015.
The expanded international trade mission and events programme is one of the key actions outlined by Enterprise Ireland in its ‘5 pillars of support’ plan, to help client companies exporting to the UK launched by the agency directly after the UK referendum. The expanded programme will draw from Enterprise Ireland’s international network, research and market intelligence. It will also utilise key contacts from the Department of Jobs, enterprise and Innovation, and the Embassy and Missions network from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to help provide the greatest opportunity for Irish companies to grow their exports.
Some of the key sectors and markets targeted include:
- Lifesciences Trade Mission to the USA
- Financial Services Trade Mission to China
- Subcontractor Automotive Expo in Sweden
- ICT Water and Wastewater Trade Mission to the Gulf
- Software and Education Trade Mission to India
- Food Manufacturing in UAE and Iran
The full programme of events includes ministerial-led trade missions, inward buyer visits, market study visits, international trade fairs, Embassy events and knowledge seminars – all aimed at linking Irish companies with international buyers, to help them scale and increase exports.
Julie Sinnamon, CEO, Enterprise Ireland said: “A key element of Enterprise Ireland’s plan to support Irish exporters is around market expansion and diversification. We recently announced record export results of €20.6bn which demonstrates that our strategy of helping clients expand into new markets in recent years is working.
“We will now intensify that approach in order to increase the opportunities for Irish exporters to scale their businesses into other global markets continuing to reduce our overall dependence on the UK market.
“Our strategy is to continue to increase the number of globally diversified Irish companies and we will now firmly focus on opportunities in Northern Europe, the USA, Canada and other high-growth markets including the Middle East and Asia Pacific”, said Sinnamon.
Delivering an intensive programme of ministerial-led trade missions is a key commitment in the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs. Announcing details of the expanded Enterprise Ireland programme, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD said: “This new programme of trade missions and events is a key element of our plan to support Irish companies from counties around Ireland to grow their businesses internationally to generate more exports and create jobs in Ireland. I look forward to promoting the high levels of innovation and capability of Irish companies across the globe”.
Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade, Charlie Flanagan TD said: ”A key element of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s strategy is to utilise our Embassies, consulates and other missions to maximise opportunities for Irish companies to develop new markets and fully utilise our strong contacts in existing ones. As announced earlier this week after the Export Trade Council meeting, I have recently created new commercial attaché posts in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia and Romania. This is a key part of my Department’s new economic diplomacy strategy”.