Pat Breen T.D., Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection commences a two-day trade mission to Italy today, 11th April 2018.
The focus of the first day of the mission is on the medtech sector in Mirandola, the centre of the Italian medical devices industry, moving to Rome tomorrow (12th April) where Minister Breen will address members of ADACI, the Italian Procurement Association.
Speaking on his arrival in Italy, Minister Breen said,
“This trade mission will build on the already strong relationship between Ireland and Italy, and bring innovative Irish products and services to the attention of senior decision makers in Italian industry. As the 4th largest market in the Eurozone for Irish exports, Italian companies are significant consumers of Irish goods. In 2016 Enterprise Ireland client company exports to Italy were in excess of €409m’.
‘Bringing this group of Irish companies to a dedicated medtech event in the heart of Italy’s medical devices cluster provides the perfect platform for them to engage in one-to-one negotiations, encouraging Italian buyers to rely on Irish innovative products and services as a source of advantage. This helps to further improve Ireland’s position internationally as a source of innovation”.
Accompanying Minister Breen, Deirdre Glenn, Lifesciences Director, Enterprise Ireland said;
“Ireland is now globally recognised as a major centre of excellence in the medical technologies sector. Ireland’s value proposition is based on the skills and technical ability our people offer as well as our regulatory track record. A key driver of growth in this sector is sub-supply, that is, the supply of components, production aids and services to multinational companies which incorporate these elements in finished products for sale on global markets”.
“Over the last four years, Enterprise Ireland medical technology clients have recorded approx 8% year-on-year sales growth to Italy. Building on this growth, today’s visit to Mirandola, Italy’s medical devices hub with its high concentration of multinationals, is a significant business development opportunity for the participating Enterprise Ireland clients”,
said Ms. Glenn.
On 12th April the Minister will travel to Rome to address members of ADACI, the Italian Procurement Agency at the CPO meeting (Chief Procurement Officers) about the implications of Brexit and strategic reconfiguration of Irish supply chain, organized by Enterprise Ireland at the Embassy of Ireland in Italy.