asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will arrange to send a trade delegation to Saudi Arabia in order to establish an export trade with that country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Trade with Saudi Arabia.
13.
Eight business missions, organised by Córas Trachtála and aimed at generating increased exports of Irish goods and services, have visited the Middle East in the past six years. Most of these included Saudi Arabia in their itineraries. The most recent mission to visit that country returned less than a month ago.
I myself led the mission to the Middle East from 26th October to 6th November, 1974. It was organised by Córas Trachtála and sponsored by the Irish Exporters' Association. Twentyfour business concerns were represented on it. During my stay in Saudi Arabia I met Government Ministers and leading figures in trade and business circles.
The Deputy no doubt is aware that since 1972 Córas Trachtála has had an office in Beirut which works for the promotion of Irish exports to the countries of the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia. Irish exports to Saudi Arabia in 1974 totalled almost £1 million compared with the previous highest figure of £384,000 in 1973.
In view of the fact that the Minister led a mission to Russia recently——
I would point out that Deputy Colley led the first one——
Perhaps the Minister would let me finish? The Minister after his visit to Russia announced he had firm orders for £150,000 after a week. Having visited Saudi Arabia, and I presume having seen the success of the permanent French delegation in the food market in that country, does the Minister not think we should have similar representation there? Even Australia can export agricultural products to Saudi Arabia. We are not getting the share we should be getting if we tackled the matter properly and had a permanent mission there.
If I could get the money I should like to have permanent missions in every country. We have a permanent mission in that part of the world — if not physically in Saudi Arabia. There is a good argument as to whether the Trucial States, Kuwait or Saudi Arabia itself would be the best location. May I add in defence of Irish exporters and in defence of Córas Tráchtála that since the mission in which I happened to participate there have been three others, one commencing on 13th February of this year, one on 24th April and one on 19th May this year and, while there is not within the confines of Saudi Arabia itself a permanent mission, there is a very vigorous effort to the limits of its budget and its personnel and a very commendable effort by Irish exporters and by Córas Tráchtála in the whole area.
Is the Minister satisfied that the incentives to our exporters — and in exporters I would include the construction industry — are completely satisfactory, and would he be prepared to review these incentives particularly in the realm of export guarantee insurance? Is he aware that a number of firms and organisations in the construction side of industry believe they could do much more business in Saudi Arabia and neighbouring countries if they had the same sort of guarantees which other European competitors have?
With respect to the Deputy, I think what he said was true a year ago, but he must be aware that whereas the previous credit export guarantees were operated, with the encouragement of the Government, by the commercial banks, there is now a scheme where there are some millions of £s worth of direct subsidy as well as the efforts of the commercial banks from the State and I am advised that those companies, exporters of capital goods who were suffering difficulties because of competition from more advantageous credit export guarantee arrangements, which raised the matter with me originally are now satisfied, and I think the CII has also expressed its satisfaction. We have moved on.
I know about these developments, but is the Minister satisfied that so far as the construction industry would be enabled to undertake construction contracts in these countries——
This seems to be a separate question.
It is allied. This is a very lucrative side of our export trade. Is the Minister satisfied that the construction industry, undertaking contracts in these countries, is not under any disadvantage?
I am. In fact, on the trip to which I referred I was able physically to see and I was physically able to bring in representatives of the Irish construction industry and they followed up those opportunities very vigorously and successfully. I do not think they feel at a disadvantage. They have expressed their pleasure at getting contracts and I think they are doing well.
What about the insurance guarantees? The Minister talks about credit. The Minister will recall that I personally urged him in the second last budget debate to do something about the credit and insurance scheme, and I think something has been done recently about credit, but what has been done about insurance?
That is a separate question.
It is a very important question.