- • Minister Flanagan will meet the Foreign Minister with a focus on Brexit
- • Minister will lead an EI Trade Delegation to Lyon involving seven Irish Cleantech companies
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Charles Flanagan TD is today (Wednesday) leading an Enterprise Ireland Trade Mission to Lyon focussed on the high potential Cleantech sector. Tomorrow (Thursday), he will have a bilateral meeting with his French counterpart, Foreign Minister Jean Marc Ayrault. During his two day visit to France, the Minister will brief key business contacts on Ireland’s priorities and interests in particular in the aftermath of Brexit.
Minister Flanagan stated:
“Part of the Government’s response to the challenges posed by Brexit was a significant increase in the number of minister-led trade missions. I am pleased to lead this trade promotion visit to Lyon which has a focus on cleantech, identified by Enterprise Ireland as a sector of high potential growth. Seven innovative Irish companies from all around the country will participate in a market study visit to Pollutec, one of the world’s largest clean-tech exhibitions.
“France is a very important trading partner for Ireland with Franco-Irish trade amounting to €1.6 bn per month. I am very pleased to have an opportunity this week to reinforce and build on this strong trading partnership.”
“France is a key market for further growth and diversification of our trade post-Brexit and is already Ireland’s largest Eurozone export market for food and beverages and the third largest globally.”
On Thursday, Minister Flanagan will have a bilateral meeting with French Foreign Minister, Jean Marc Ayrault, for discussions on a range of issues, with Brexit high on the ministers’ agenda. Minister Flanagan stated:
“My meeting with Minister Ayrault is a further opportunity to engage with one of Ireland’s key EU partners as the preparations are advancing for the negotiations on the UK exit from the EU. We will share views, concerns and priorities and I will be stressing again the unique concerns of Ireland in terms of the border, the Peace Process and the Common Travel Area.”
“I am pleased to have an opportunity to brief key Irish business contacts in France on Ireland’s strong commitment to the EU, the Government’s work to mitigate the effects of Brexit, and the strong potential for trade with an investment in Ireland.”
Notes for editors: The seven Irish Clean-tech companies represented at Pollutec are Grant Engineering, Offaly; Galu, Kildare; Airsynergy, Longford; Greentech Biofuels, Kildare; FLI Group, Waterford; Ecocem Ireland, Dublin; and Tricel, Kerry.