Vol. 472 No. 1
75 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if he has satisfied himself with the scale of our trade links with the Pacific Rim countries; if he will visit these countries more frequently to improve the existing situation; and the current balance of trade position. [22071/96]
I pointed out in my reply of 2 February 1995 in response to a similar question, there have been several Government-led trade missions to the region in recent years, including missions which I led to Malaysia in 1995 and to Korea and Taiwan earlier this year.
I will continue to avail of all appropriate opportunities to advance Ireland's economic relations with the countries of the region, both through bilateral contacts such as trade missions and inward visits. I will also use the channels afforded by the multilateral trade fora of the EU, the WTO and the OECD to enhance economic relations and to pursue the greatest possible market opening for Irish goods and services.
Initiatives at ministerial level are supplemented on the ground by the ongoing promotional activities of An Bord Tráchtála which has an extensive network of offices and trade consultants in the region. An Bord Tráchtála has recently created two new senior positions of director for the Americas and director for Asia who will have responsibility for maximising Irish exports to these markets.
With regard to the current balance of trade position, I understand that on the basis of CSO figures for 1995 two-way trade with the 18 countries in the region who are members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation grouping, or APEC, came to about £11.2 billion or 23 per cent of our total trade. Imports came to £6.9 billion and exports amounted to £4.3 billion or 16 per cent of total exports, leaving a negative balance of £2.6 billion. Details of our trade with individual countries in the Pacific Rim region are available from the Central Statistics Office.
