Vol. 450 No. 8
181 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the foreign markets that have been identified by his Department for exports in 1995; the value of exports in 1994; a breakdown of countries; the targets set for 1995; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5828/95]
Although the CSO have still to finalise figures for 1994, latest available estimates indicate that total exports last year are likely to reach £22.4 billion, an increase of 14 per cent on the previous year. The market breakdown of export performance for the period January-August 1994, the latest for which CSO figures are available, was as follows: UK, 27 per cent; Mainland Europe, 40 per cent; North America, 10 per cent; Rest of World, 23 per cent.
An Bord Tráchtála expect 1995 exports to show an increase of 13 per cent to £25.3 billion.
Targets set by Government for ABT focus on improving the export performance of indigenous Irish non-food companies. I recently announced at the launch of the annual ABT Review and Outlook for 1994 and 1995 that Government was aiming for an increase in exports by this sector to £6 billion by 1999.
Working towards this objective the trade board are targeting a 17 per cent increase this year to £4 billion, with the main concentration on the British, remainder of the EU, North American and Asian markets. ABT will be promoting a particularly intensive campaign to encourage exporters to seize new business opportunities emerging in the enlarged EU Single European Market, under the banner "Opportunity Europe". This will involve a dual startegy of supporting the 800-plus Irish companies at present selling in Continental Europe and encouraging Irish exporters who have already been successful in Britain to expand into other European markets.
There will also be special emphasis in 1995 on encouraging companies to identify opportunities in the Northern Ireland market.
