Major opportunities for Irish companies in the aviation sector
The Minister of State for Commuter and Public Transport, Mr. Alan Kelly T.D., is today (Monday 7 October 2013) leading an Enterprise Ireland trade mission to Russia, focussed on the aviation sector and the growing opportunities for Irish companies in this major market.
The trade mission, which is based in Moscow and has been organised with the support of the Irish embassy in Russia, includes 20 best-in-class Irish companies from the aviation sector. Russia has become a key export market over the past two years for many of these companies and the mission is aimed at reinforcing the broad range of products and services they offer to Russian airlines and aviation buyers.
The aviation industry in Ireland is directly responsible for 26,000 jobs with an estimated further 16,000 jobs supported in the aviation supply chain. This sector also contributes €4.1 billion to Ireland’s GDP (€1.9bn directly, with €2.2bn from the supply chain and associated spending).
Announcing the mission, Minister Kelly said: ‘Ireland already has in place a world-class aviation ecosystem, including a very active leasing infrastructure, MRO (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul), pilot training, software and IT, and financial and other services associated with the sector. Our capacity to offer a turn-key solution for many of Russia’s leading airlines means that Ireland is now seen by the Russian aviation industry as a market leader. This trade mission is all about building on this strong platform and assisting Irish companies, in every way possible, to increase exports and create and maintain jobs at home’.
In the next decade the Russian government is planning a major €140 infrastructural and aviation transport services programme. Major growth is also being seen in the total value of the Russian online travel market, which grew 26% to $6.2 billion in 2012, and is expected to double in 2013. These developments open major opportunities for Irish suppliers.
Highlighting these opportunities Enterprise Ireland’s Head of International Sales and Partnering, Kevin Sherry, said: ‘This Trade Mission is a very timely and exciting opportunity for Irish companies seeking to expand their business in the growing aviation market in Russia. This market offers enormous potential for ambitious Irish companies. An intense schedule of trade focused activity will give the participating companies important networking opportunities with their Russian partners, and support for their market entry, development, and sales strategies. We are confident that further growth and business successes will result from this trade mission and from the significant effort currently being put into the market by Irish companies’.
The trade mission is built around Russia’s leading aviation forum, ‘Wings of Russia’, which Minister Kelly will address. The Minister’s schedule during the visit includes a series of meetings with representatives of the Russian Federation Government and Moscow City Government, RosKosmos, the Russian Space Agency, meetings with Irish companies and their Russian partners and customers, and a series of events promoting the capabilities and strengths of Irish companies in the aviation sector.
The trade mission also underlines Ireland’s commitment to the inter-governmental Joint Economic Commission relationship with Russia in the build-up to the 9th JEC Session to take place in Dublin this coming December. Minister Kelly will meet representatives of the Russian Ministry for Economic Development, charged with overseeing the JEC process for Russia. He will also meet the members of the Global Irish Network in Russia, and leading members of the Irish business community.
ENDS