Jobs Minister Richard Bruton and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore announcing the programme of Ministerial Trade Missions for 2014[/caption]Intensive programme of Ministerial trade missions and international trade
events for 2014 announced by Tánaiste and Minister for Jobs
· Enterprise Ireland launches new Market Access Grant Scheme to assist
companies internationalise their businesses and announces intensive
international programme of 118 trade events including 18
Ministerial-led trade missions
· St Patrick’s Day “Promote Ireland” programme will see 27 Ministers
taking part in over 100 business events and 80 high-level political
meetings in 23 countries
17th February 2014
The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore TD
and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD
today [Monday] launched the year-long programme of ministerial-led events
targeting trade and investment for Ireland in 2014.
Today’s announcement includes details of the Government’s St. Patrick’s Day
‘Promote Ireland’ programme of international activity which will see 27
Ministers taking part in over 100 business events and 80 high-level
political meetings in 35 cities across 23 countries.
The announcement also includes details of Enterprise Ireland's year-long
programme of trade missions and international activity for 2014 as well as
a major new Enterprise Ireland Market Access Grant Scheme which will help
companies succeed more quickly and effectively in new markets.
The announcement took place in Ergo, a highly innovative exporting Irish IT
company offering infrastructure services and software development solutions
Delivering an intensive programme of ministerial-led trade missions is a
key commitment in the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs. The number of
ministerial-led Enterprise Ireland trade missions has more than doubled
since 2011.
Launching the St. Patrick’s Day programme, the Tánaiste said:
“2014 is all about recovery. Now that we have exited the EU/IMF bailout and
made a successful return to the bond markets, it is more important than
ever that we leverage the opportunity presented by the St. Patrick’s Day
period to further boost trade, tourism and inward-investment with a view to
creating more jobs at home.
“The Government, supported by our embassy network and State agencies, will
be sending a clear message that Ireland is a stable, vibrant and innovative
country with which to do business. Our exit from the bailout and return to
economic stability will form an important part of the international
narrative around the St. Patrick’s Day period this year.
“As our number-one export market and the source of 80 percent of all
foreign direct investment to Ireland, North America features heavily in the
programme again this year with ministers taking in 11 US and three Canadian
cities over the St. Patrick’s Day period.
“I look forward to working with our embassies and consulates all over the
world and the State agencies – Enterprise Ireland, the IDA, Tourism Ireland
and Bord Bia – to make the most of this crucial period for the Irish
economy.”
Announcing the Enterprise Ireland programme, Minister Bruton said:
“At the heart of the Government's Action Plan for Jobs is our drive to
provide better supports for exporting companies so that they can sell more
of their products and services abroad and help create the jobs we badly
need. As part of that drive we have put in place a range of new supports,
including the establishment of a new division in Enterprise Ireland focused
on potential exporters, 14% extra staff for EI in foreign markets and tax
breaks for companies to put staff on the ground in target countries. In the
past two years, we have started to see the results, with a total of more
than 20,000 extra jobs added by exporting companies during that time.
Companies like Ergo here today show just what can be achieved by innovative
Irish companies that are strategically focussed on driving their export
business.
“Today we are announcing the Enterprise Ireland programme of international
activity for 2014. The number of ministerial-led missions will remain at 18
– consistent with 2013 levels, and more than double the numbers during
2007-2011 when the average was 8.5. We are also announcing a significant
new scheme to support internationalisation to support companies in
developing new markets, worth up to 150k per company. By continuing to
develop and implement new supports for exporting companies, I am convinced
we can build on these and support exporting companies to create more jobs
in the coming years”.
Kevin Sherry, Head of International Sales and Partnering at Enterprise
Ireland, added: ‘‘Exports create and sustain jobs in Ireland and the
programme of trade missions and events we have put in place is designed to
build on export growth in markets where Irish companies are strong and can
continue to grow, as well as high growth markets where we can win new
business. Ministerial-led trade missions are a key part of Enterprise
Ireland’s strategy to grow Irish export sales and are of great benefit in
opening doors, making high-level introductions and helping our client
companies to exploit the opportunities that exist in global markets. Year
on year Irish companies continue to increase their export sales, and we
expect another strong performance in the coming year, supported by
Enterprise Ireland and this very intensive programme of international
events’.
Enterprise Ireland International Programme
The Tánaiste and Minister Bruton also today launched a major new Enterprise
Ireland Market Access Grant Scheme which will help companies succeed more
quickly and effectively in new markets. This new scheme, under which
companies can receive grant support of up to €150,000 to develop new
markets, is a very significant addition to the trade mission activity and
the wide range of supports which Enterprise Ireland already provides for
exporting companies. This scheme is aimed at companies that are
investigating new markets that demonstrate strong potential and will
provide funding support to develop marketing strategies to capitalise on
these opportunities.
This year, over 1000 EI client companies will take part in a series of 118
international events including 18 ministerial-led trade missions to major
export markets including North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East,
Africa and Latin America. These trade missions and events are a central
part of Enterprise Ireland’s drive to support Irish companies seeking to
exploit new international business opportunities, target and secure new
international customers and grow their sales. These activities are key to
helping companies build their export markets, creating and sustaining
much-needed jobs in Ireland and further increasing Ireland’s indigenous
companies exports from their current record level.
St. Patrick’s Day “Promote Ireland” programme
The St. Patrick’s Day period is a cornerstone of the Government’s efforts
to promote trade, tourism, inward-investment and culture abroad in order to
foster economic growth and job creation at home.
This year will see 27 Ministers visiting more than 35 cities in 23
countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Middle East for a
series of trade, tourism and investment-focused programmes. Ministers will
take part in hundreds of business events and dozens of high-level political
meetings as part of an intensive “Promote Ireland” programme.
Among the destinations included in this year’s St. Patrick’s Day programme
for the first time are Mexico and Vietnam – two important emerging markets
identified in the soon-to-be-published Review of the Government Trade,
Tourism and Investment Strategy. Mexico and Vietnam have a combined
population of more than 200 million people with total Irish exports to the
two countries up by 8 percent and 41 percent respectively between 2010 and
2012.
Russia is also back on the St. Patrick’s Day agenda for the first time
since 2010, reflecting the impressive growth of Irish exports to the
country in
recent years. Goods exports to Russia have increased by 69
percent since 2010.
The Tánaiste will travel to France for a comprehensive programme of trade,
tourism and investment-focused events as well as high-level political
meetings. Coordinated by Embassy Paris, the three-day programme in
Ireland’s sixth largest export market, will include a business event
organised by IDA Ireland, promotion of Bord Bia and EI clients at the Wabel
Frozen Food Summit and a number of contract signings by Enterprise Ireland
client companies.
Minister Bruton will travel to Italy where he will lead events in Rome and
Milan. As well as community and cultural engagements, the Minister will be
supporting Irish companies at major networking events and targeted meetings
in our ninth largest merchandise trade partner. His programme will involve
a focus on technology, engineering, investment, food and tourism.
It is expected that Ministers will participate in more than 80 high-level
political meetings, including bilateral meetings with President Obama and
Prime Minister Cameron. They will also attend over 100 business events and
participate in cultural, networking and Irish community events throughout
the St. Patrick’s Day period.
ENDS
For further information contact:
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Meg Laffan, 087 683 7205
meg.laffan@dfa.ie
Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Conor Quinn, press Advisor
to Minister Bruton, 087-3743783, press.office@djei.ie
Enterprise Ireland: Alan Hobbs, Head of Communications, 086-8699703.
NOTES TO EDITORS
St. Patrick’s Day “Promote Ireland” programme:
|
France | Tánaiste
|
-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------
|
Canada | Minister Michael Noonan
|
-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------
|
China | Minister Brendan Howlin
|
-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------
|
Italy | Minister Richard Bruton
|
-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------
|
New York | Minister Joan Burton
|
-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------
|
San Francisco | Minister Jimmy Deenihan
|
-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------
|
London and Birmingham | Minister Pat Rabbitte
|
-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------
|
United Arab Emirates | Minister Phil Hogan
|
-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------
|
Mexico | Minister Alan Shatter
|
-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------
|
New Zealand and Eastern Australia | Minister Simon Coveney
|
-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------
|
Japan and Korea | Minister Frances Fitzgerald
|
-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------
|
Boston and Cleveland | Minister James Reilly
|
-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------
|
Atlanta and Savannah | Minister Leo Varadkar
|
-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------
|
Washington DC | Attorney General Máire
| Whelan SC
|
-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------
|
Lebanon | Minister of State Paul Kehoe
|
-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------
|
Scotland | Minister of State Jan
| O’Sullivan
|
-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------
|
Pittsburgh and Philadelphia | Minister of State Dinny
| McGinley
|
-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------
|
Spain | Minister of State John Perry
|
-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------
|
Netherlands | Minister of State Michael
| Ring
|
-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------
|
Vietnam | Minister of State Kathleen
| Lynch
|
-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------
|
Germany | Minister of State Fergus
| O’Dowd
|
-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------
|
Chicago and Kansas City | Minister of State Sean
| Sherlock
|
-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------
|
Romania | Minister of State Ciaran
| Cannon
|
-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------
|
Western Australia | Minister of State Alan Kelly
|
-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------
|
Russia | Minister of State Alex White
|
-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------
|
Norway | Minister of State Tom Hayes
|
-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------
|
Belgium and Luxembourg | Minister of State Paschal
| Donohoe
|
St Patrick’s Day 2013
Over the 2013 St Patrick’s Day period, the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and
Ministers, with the support of the Embassy network and State agencies:
· Undertook 20 programmes to promote trade, tourism, investment and
Irish culture overseas
Participated in 88 high-level political meetings, including bilateral
meetings with President Obama, Prime Minister Cameron, then
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and US Secretary of State
Kerry, among others
· Engaged in 70 focussed company engagements with potential to support
new export opportunities or win new investments
· Promoted trade and investment in Ireland at 101 business events,
attended by over 8,500 Irish and international company
representatives contributing to new leads for indigenous exporters
and for inward investment to Ireland
· Promoted key messages on trade, tourism and investment in
opinion-editorials and interviews in the international media –
reaching, at a very conservative estimate, over 16.3 million people.
The Tánaiste recently published the first annual report of the economic and
promotional work undertaken abroad by the Department of Foreign Affairs and
Trade - Ireland’s Economic Diplomacy in Action 2013. The report shows how
the embassy network continues to play a crucial role in supporting the
Government’s Strategy to increase trade, tourism and investment in Ireland.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is leading the Review of the
Government Strategy for Trade, Tourism and Investment in close
collaboration with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and
other Government Departments and State Agencies involved in promoting
trade, tourism and investment.
The Review, which is designed to ensure that the State coordinates its
efforts overseas in a manner which yields the best possible economic
return, will be published next week.
Enterprise Ireland programme of international activity
Full programme available at:
http://www.enterprise-ireland.com/EI_Corporate/en/Events/OurEvents/International-Trade-Event-Programme.pdfMarket Access Grant Scheme
Full details available at:
http://www.enterprise-ireland.com/EI_Corporate/en/funding-supports/Company/Esetablish-SME-Funding/Market-Access-Grant.htmlAbout Ergo
Headquartered in Dublin with more than 200 employees, Ergo is an award
winning IT company offering IT infrastructure services and software
development solutions. From consultancy and project management to software
engineering and support, Ergo is an end-to-end provider, leveraging 20
years of experience and skills in all core IT competencies.
A pioneer of managed service delivery in Ireland, Ergo continues to
innovate and bring strategic value to IT through a combination of
best-of-breed products from partners like Microsoft and HP, and software
solutions developed at its R&D centre. In 2013, Ergo launched its business
process management tool FlowForma, which is already driving efficiencies in
organisations across Ireland and the UK.
The company has become a strategic IT partner to leading organisations such
as Laya Healthcare, the Irish Revenue Commissioners, Mercury Engineering,
Beaumont Hospital and Analog Devices.
For further information visit
www.ergogroup.ie