Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 March 2014
147. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will identify and list what he expects to be the top ten growing export markets for Ireland in the medium term; the language needs of Irish businesses in respect of each of these export markets; and the actions being taken to meet the language needs of Irish businesses in this regard. [10678/14]
View answerThe Government’s Review of the Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy was launched on 24 February. This review identifies the 27 priority markets that will be the continuing and additional focus of efforts to drive export and investment opportunities. The range of target markets identified will ensure that the necessary resources and policies are devoted to both already well established export markets and to those in Asia, South America and Africa, where growth rates are likely to continue at high levels.
The Review establishes a new approach to identifying export and investment markets that matter and where our economic recovery is happening on the basis of exports and enterprise. This approach identifies the 27 priority markets as ‘High Value Markets’ such as Europe, the U.S., Japan and China; a group of other ‘Established and Developing Markets’ such as the India, Russia, Brazil and Gulf economies; and, finally, a number of ‘Exploratory and High Potential Markets’ such as Turkey, Indonesia, Nigeria, Vietnam and Mexico where Ireland will be looking for new opportunities in the future. Many of these markets are also ones with whom the EU is negotiating Free Trade Agreements that will accelerate the creation of new market access for exporters.
Enterprise Ireland has already built up a vast amount of knowledge and connections right across these markets and these are a vital resource available to support its clients globalise their businesses.
Exports to Brazil, India, Russia and China, targeted Gulf States and the Asia Pacific region. Enterprise Ireland client companies grew their exports by an impressive 70% between 2008 and 2012. While significant, this only represents about 12% of the agency’s client exports. The recalibration of export markets as set out in the Review will help accelerate growth in our exports to these regions. To this end Enterprise Ireland continues an ongoing realignment of resources to enhance delivery of client services in high growth markets, and received sanction in 2013 to add a further 20 staff to bolster resources available to client companies in fast growing markets.
The review is an important aspect of the Winning Abroad Disruptive Reform and will ensure that the impact of State resources are maximised in priority markets, giving them and Irish companies the best possible platform to win business overseas. The new direction also re-aligns the list of priority sectors so that they dovetail with the Action Plan for Jobs.
Enterprise Ireland works actively with Forfás and the Expert Group on Future Skills needs to identify the skills gaps its clients are facing and to effectively increase their export capacity.
In 2012, the Forfás / EGFSN Report Key Skills for Enterprise to Trade Internationally made recommendations aimed at ensuring that education and training provision would be aligned to the international trade skills requirements of enterprise. A main recommendation was the need to boost the supply (quantity and proficiency) of foreign language skills and cultural awareness being taught at third level - for German, French, Spanish, Italian and emerging BRIC markets.
On 27 February this year, the Action Plan for Jobs 2014, the third annual instalment in the Government plan aimed at building a sustainable growing economy and creating jobs, was published. The Action Plan for Jobs 2014 includes a priority commitment on the part of the Minister for Education to develop and publish a languages education strategy. The development of this languages strategy in 2014 is one of the ways in which the Government will support Ireland’s “winning abroad” agenda.
