David Andrews
Question:18 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the plans, if any, he has to develop joint trade missions with Northern Ireland as proposed by the chief executive officer of Mackies in Belfast. [1559/96]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Written Answers. - Joint Trade Missions.
I am aware of the comments relating to trade missions made by Mackies chief executive, at the recent IMI conference in Belfast. He quoted, as an example of complementarity, the Irish engineering sector where, in the North, the expertise tends to be in the heavy engineering segment whereas, in the South, it is mainly in light engineering. I agree with the broad thrust of what he said i.e. that there can be benefits for Northern and Southern companies where missions are organised on a joint basis.
While the organisation of such missions is, in the South, the day to day responsibility of An Bord Tráchtála, I know that ABT is very mindful of the benefits of the joint approach, as are its counterparts in the North, the Industrial Development Board. Indeed, their longstanding co-operation is driven by the pragmatic belief that there are many occasions when companies from all over the island can make more market impact more cost effectively through cooperative action. This co-operation is guided by some basic principles.
The first is that initiatives are undertaken only where there are sound business or commercial reasons for doing so, based on clear industry support for each initiative. A second principle is to avoid activities which could have the effect of displacing existing Irish suppliers or contractors from the North or the South, but to promote activities that might help to achieve incremental sales in overseas markets. Finally, care is taken not to duplicate initiatives undertaken or planned by other groups such as CBI/IBEC and the Chambers of Commerce. Within these principles it has been possible for companies from Northern Ireland (including Mackies) to join trade missions from the Republic of Ireland and for companies from the Republic to participate in missions organised by the IDB.
I am confident that ABT, with the co-operation of many representative bodies, will continue to build on the positive working relationships which they have established with their counterparts in Northern Ireland, to guarantee increased trade and better economic climate throughout the whole island, North and South.