Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 Nov 2000

Vol. 526 No. 4

Written Answers. - Industrial Development.

Ivor Callely

Question:

180 Mr. Callely asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the level of trade between Ireland and Egypt; the opportunity for further development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26438/00]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. T. Kitt)

Provisional trade figures for the period from January to September 2000 show that Ireland's exports to Egypt totalled £138 million, an increase of 16% on the same period in 1999. Exports in 1999 totalled £182 million, which in turn was an increase of almost 21% on 1998. While food products, especially meat, are Ireland's principal exports to Egypt, the other major exports include computers parts and recorded media.

In the last three years, 26 clients of Enterprise Ireland have written some level of business in Egypt and in 1999, 14 of Enterprise Ireland's clients exported £53.5 million of goods and services, an increase of 356% on 1998.

I understand from Enterprise Ireland that the priority sectors in Egypt where Irish companies can develop business include environmental technology, food process, food packaging, healthcare, telecommunications, oil and gas.

Enterprise Ireland has already undertaken initial market investigations on behalf of a number of clients and plans to investigate market opportunities on a more in-depth basis have been completed, in those areas highlighted as priority sectors for development in Egypt.

Two inward missions from the softwareinformation technology sector have visited Ireland during 2000, assisted by Enterprise Ireland. These missions focused on the success factors behind the Irish software industry. Enterprise Ireland has informed me that they plan to undertake an exploratory trade mission to Egypt in February 2001, focusing on the software, information technology and education sectors. This mission is in response to an invitation issued by Egypt's Minister for Communications and Information Technology.