James Leonard
Question:32 Mr. Leonard asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the additional developments in the Border counties as a result of the Washington Trade Conference and trade missions. [17938/95]
Written Answers. - Border Counties Developments.
Since the Deputy last asked me this question on 18 October, I can report a number of developments.
A US trade and investment mission visited the Border counties and Northern Ireland in the week from 15 to 20 October. The mission featured 19 US companies who met with Irish counterparts, state agencies, etc. The primary focus was in the areas of food products, information technology and environmental protection services. The feedback, on both sides, was I understand quite positive.
The Minister for Enterprise and Employment led a very successful North American business partnership mission, comprising some 30 Irish companies, to the US in mid-November. The purpose was to promote strategic alliances and business partnerships between Irish and US companies to enable them to break into new markets. During the visit, Forbairt and the US Small Business Administration (SBA) signed a co-operative agreement on implementing this new initiative. The SBA will lead a similar Mission to Ireland in Spring 1996. The US Department of Commerce, in keeping with its other commitments arising from the conference, is tailoring existing schemes/programmes such as the Business Information Service and the AMBIT Programme, which offers managerial internships with US companies and which are financially supported by the International Fund for Ireland, to be of greater benefit to companies on both sides of the Border.
The US Department of Commerce has also recently created an Internet "homepage" for Northern Ireland and the Border counties of Ireland which provides general economic information for the region.
In the area of science and technology, several initiatives foreseen at the Washington Conference have been advanced recently: (i) the Minister of State for Science and Technology signed a Statement of Intent on the extension of US — Irish co-operation in Science and Technology with Secretary of Commerce Brown on 1 December 1995; (ii) the proposal for a Technology Trust Fund for Peace has now evolved into a pilot project called RADIUS (Research and Development between Ireland and the US), for which the International Fund for Ireland has agreed funding of £0.5 million in 1996.
In addition, and independently of the RADIUS project, I am aware that Mr. John Cullinane and other US business persons are continuing to promote the idea of a venture capital fund which would support company to company business relationships between Ireland and the US.
An Irish/US co-operative programme in research and development in the marine sector between the Irish Marine Institute and the US National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration was also signed on 1 December 1995 by the Minister for the Marine and Defence and Secretary of Commerce Brown. On 4 December last, ABT held a seminar for Irish companies coinciding with the launch of their new Guide to US Public Procurement. Speakers from the US were present to provide advice on accessing the US Government procurement market.
I think that these developments show that extensive follow-up activity, with considerable potential to benefit companies in the Border region and beyond, is continuing to take place.