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Minister Bruton leads 3-day trade mission of 30 Irish companies to Canada as 20% increase in exports targeted

25 meetings on Enterprise Ireland programme targets increase in exports and jobs in Irish companies

The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD, departs today (Wednesday) to lead an Enterprise Ireland trade mission of 30 Irish companies to Canada. The objectives of the trade mission are to boost trade between the two countries, and help Irish companies grow their export sales and create jobs in Ireland.

Exports to Canada by Enterprise Ireland clients rose by 19% to €224m in 2011. Significantly, it is hoped that exports for 2012 will increase by a further 20%.

A total of 30 companies are travelling with the Minister, in sectors including mobile, telecoms and financial software, infrastructure, business process outsourcing, agri-tech, consumer products, food and beverage and education services.

Participating companies range from innovative high-growth start-ups with less than €1million turnover and fewer than 5 employees, to €2billion companies employing over 3000 people globally.

Minister Bruton will participate in a total of 25 meetings and engagements over the three-day trade mission (see full programme below), including:

· 17 meetings and events with Irish exporting companies targeting the Canadian market, Canadian companies who may offer opportunities to them, as well as other Irish and Canadian business leaders in targeted sectors

· 4 interviews with Canadian media, including the largest-circulation national newspaper the Globe and Mail, as part of the ongoing plan by the Government to rebuild Ireland’s reputation abroad

· 3 meetings with Canadian politicians, including the Canadian Minister for Finance, as part of a programme to improve opportunities for Irish companies, as well as discussing other issues

Speaking before his departure Minister Bruton said:

“At the heart of the Government’s plan for jobs and growth is our ambition to create a powerful engine of indigenous enterprise. We must not only continue to grow jobs in multinational companies, but we must also support ambitious Irish companies seeking to grow their exports and jobs.

“Through the Action Plan for Jobs we are implementing a range of changes this year to provide better supports for Irish companies who are determined to continue growing their exports and creating new jobs, including the establishment of a Potential Exporters Division in Enterprise Ireland and a series of tax changes in the Budget to make it easier to place staff in overseas markets. The ongoing intensive programme of trade missions is a part of this plan, and my hope is that through the series of meetings that we hold this week, Irish companies will be in a position to strike deals with Canadian companies and grow their exports to this important market”.

“Our trade relationship with Canada, which is a priority market under the Government's Trade Strategy, is already very strong. Innovative and export-focused Irish firms already operating successfully in Canada have raised awareness of the quality and high-tech nature of products and services Irish firms offer. This mission is about cementing and building on these existing links and opening new doors for increased export business and ultimately jobs”.

Enterprise Ireland's CEO Frank Ryan, who is accompanying Minister Bruton on the trade mission added:

‘Over 220 Irish companies are selling goods and services into Canada spanning a wide range of sectors including telecoms, financial services and consumer retail. Exports create and sustain jobs in Ireland. The expected 20% growth in exports to Canada by Enterprise Ireland client companies in 2012 clearly demonstrates that there are significant, tangible opportunities for increased trade and partnerships between Irish and Canadian companies. We are confident that further growth and business successes will result from this trade mission.’

ENDS

For further information contact:

Press Office, Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, 01-6312200, press.office@djei.ie

Ciara Concanon, Press Officer, Enterprise Ireland +353 1 7272284; +353 1 872043435; Ciara.Concannon@enterprise-ireland.com

Note for Editors:

This is Minister Bruton’s twelfth major trade/investment mission since taking office in March 2011. Other missions undertaken include:

· Five IDA investment missions, two to the USA east coast, two to the west coast and one encompassing the East Coast, South and Mid-West

· Three Enterprise Ireland trade missions, one to Saudi Arabia and India, one to the south-eastern USA, one to France accompanied by a total of over 100 Irish companies looking to break into new export markets

· A 7-day joint IDA/EI mission to China led by the Taoiseach

· A 5-day EI/IDA trip to the west coast of the USA built around St Patrick’s Day

· A 2-day mission to Germany around St Patrick’s Day 2011, including a series of meetings arranged by Enterprise Ireland, Bord Bia and Tourism Ireland

· A large number of shorter trips to Europe for EU business as well as trade/investment objectives, including most recently a one-day trip to Bucharest with the Taoiseach to attend the European People’s Party Congress in advance of the European Council meeting.

Enterprise Ireland is the Government agency responsible for the development and internationalisation of Irish enterprises. Its main aim is to boost exports and export-led jobs. Enterprise Ireland has 31 offices worldwide, including one in Toronto, Canada to help Irish firms develop overseas markets.

Each year, Enterprise Ireland organises a series of targeted international trade missions, market visits, participation in international trade fairs and a large number of international buyer visits to Ireland focussed on assisting Irish firms target and secure international contracts and overseas partners. Here, Enterprise Ireland works directly with Irish firms to help them start up, develop their businesses, build competitiveness and innovate.

Wednesday 7th November.

09.00 Depart Dublin

2.55 Arrive Toronto

4.30 Mission Briefing with Enterprise Ireland

5.30 Event with Zolkc.

6.15 Business Networking event which will include local senior Irish expatriate business leaders and Global Irish Network Members.

Thursday 8th November

08.15 Breakfast Meeting with Lifes 2 Good and MCP

9.15 Depart Hotel

9.30 Event at offices ofInternational Financial Data Services along with Enterprise Ireland company, Exaxe.

10.20 Depart IFDS

10.45 Meeting with Millmount Healthcare and Apotex

12.00 Meeting with Fexco and First Data

12.30 Attend and speak at Enterprise Ireland mission lunch with EI Clients and local business contacts.

2.30 Depart lunch for interview with TV Ontario

2.55 Pre recorded Interview, ‘The Agenda with Steve Paikin’ TVO.

3.45 Depart TVO Studios.

4.15 Arrive One Posting Office for meeting with local partner, Kearns Insurance.

4.40 Leave offices

4.55 Attend the Financial Services Advisory Panel meeting. Discussion and comments with advisors followed by an Irish company presentation.

5.30 Attend the Telecoms Advisory Panel meeting. Discussion and comments with the advisors.

5.45 Meeting with Michael Kelly, Fineos

6.15 Attend/short speech at Enterprise Ireland Financial Services Networking event.

7.15 Depart for Ireland Canada Chamber of Commerce Reception

7.30 Arrive Ireland Canada Chamber of Commerce event.

Friday 9th November

07.45 Depart Hotel for BNN Studios

08.15 Seven minute interview with Andrew Bell of Business News Network.

08.35 Depart BNN for Royal York.

9.30 Meeting with Liquor Control Board of Ontario including four Irish companies and Bord Bia

10.30 Interview with the Globe and Mail

11.30 Meeting with RCSI and UHN.

1.30 Depart meeting.

2.00 Meeting with Cashel Blue Cheese with Irish Dairy Board.

2.30 Depart event for meeting with Brad Duguid, Ontario Minister for Economic Development and Innovation.

3.00 Meeting with Brad Duguid, Minister for Economic Development and Innovation

4.30 Meeting with Minister Jim Flaherty, Canadian Minister for Finance

5.15 Depart Minister Flaherty’s office.

5.45 Attend the launch of SAAS Markets in Canada.

6.45 Mission Debrief.

7.15 Depart for Airport.

Canada is the world's 10th largest economy, with a population of 34 million spread across the second largest country in the world. A G8 economy, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is $1.73 (CAD) trillion. The country's economy grew by 2.4% in 2011 and is expected to record an average growth rate of 2.3% during 2012-2017. The Canadian dollar has been roughly at parity with the US dollar for the past two years.

Outside of Europe, Canada is Ireland’s 2nd largest export market for Enterprise Ireland clients. Exports of Enterprise Ireland clients were €224m in 2011 - an increase of almost 19% on the 2010 figure of €187m.