Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 May 1993

Vol. 430 No. 3

Written Answers. - Exports to Russia.

Ivor Callely

Question:

130 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the value of our exports to Russia for each of the years, from 1987 to 1992; the areas that have been identified for further development; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Tourism and Trade (Mr. McCreevy)

Details of our exports to Russia are not available for the years 1987 to 1992. Details are available for exports to the former Soviet Union and these are attached in tabular form. The vast majority of exports would have been to Russia.

In 1987, our exports to the USSR were £21.2 million while the provisional figure for exports to the former USSR — excluding the Baltic States — for 1992 is £112.8 million. The year 1992 has seen a significant increase in food exports mainly as a result of the European Community's humanitarian aid programme.

For 1993, our marketing development strategy will be largely dictated by the realities of market conditions which are of course, closely linked to the political situation. The continuing economic crisis, coupled with the acute shortage of hard currency, militates against any short term revival in export opportunites.

An Bord Tráchtála is researching "niche" oppprtunities for tradeable goods and will attempt to identify business prospects relevant to Ireland's supply capability with emerging Russian organisations who have hard currency availability.

However, outside of the food sector, the main growth area for exports is in services. Multi-lateral technical assistance programmes provide particular opportunities.

I am aware that, in the medium to long term, there is significant potential in Russia for the sale of Irish goods and services. I will be leading a trade mission to Moscow in the autumn in the order to further develop the potential of the market.

Exports to USSR

	£000
1987	21,158
1988	16,028
1989	43,894
1990	93,075
1991	69,557
1992	112,841

The figures for 1987-1991 are for the former USSR. The 1992 figure is the value of exports to the former USSR, excluding the Baltic States, between January and September and exports to Russia between October and December. The value of the latter was £6.8 million.