Published on Monday13thNovember2017

Tánaiste leads Enterprise Ireland Trade Mission to the United Arab Emirates and Oman

20171114 Tanaiste UAE

With a focus on growing Irish exports to the United Arab Emirates to €2 billion by 2020, over 30 Enterprise Ireland clients representing sectors including aviation, technology and financial services are participating on the Enterprise Ireland trade and investment mission to the United Arab Emirates and Oman this week. Led Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald the trade mission including the Dubai Air Show is focused on increasing Irish exports to the region by over 40% in 2020, from €1.4 billion in 2016.

The three-day trade mission, covering Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Muscat in Oman, will see 32 Enterprise Ireland clients, some of whom are Brexit exposed, participate in 11 Enterprise Ireland business events and over 200 pre-arranged meetings with potential buyers in the Arab States.

Among the new deals announced at the Dubai Airshow, Botany Weaving the Dublin based, world-leading manufacturer of aviation fabrics and carpets announced that it has secured a multi-million dollar deal with a UAE airline to supply interior textiles.

Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald said:

The Irish aviation sector, contributing over €4 billion to GDP in 2016, is one of Ireland’s success stories. The Dubai Airshow is an important platform to showcase the very best of what Ireland offers to the aviation world and to engage with Irish aviation leaders who are shaping the aviation sector across this region.

There has been a marked increase in Irish company exports to the UAE and Oman in recent years and the focus of my Department through our agencies, and trade missions is to support more companies particularly those who are Brexit exposed to achieve further market diversification and grow their international exports. Over the course of the trade mission, I look forward to engaging with key decision makers at the highest levels in Government and Industry to promote Ireland as a source of world-class products and services.