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Trade Missions Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 March 2018

Tuesday, 20 March 2018

Questions (378, 379, 380, 381)

Maurice Quinlivan

Question:

378. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the destinations of each trade mission undertaken in each of the years 2014 to 2017; the Ministers who travelled on each trade mission; and the cost of each trade mission, in tabular form. [12337/18]

View answer

Maurice Quinlivan

Question:

379. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the companies that travelled on each separate trade mission in 2017, in tabular form. [12338/18]

View answer

Maurice Quinlivan

Question:

380. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the way in which companies are chosen to participate in trade missions abroad. [12339/18]

View answer

Maurice Quinlivan

Question:

381. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of departmental and governmental officials that travelled on each trade mission in 2017. [12340/18]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 378 to 381, inclusive, together.

Enterprise Ireland is the state agency under my aegis with responsibility for helping Irish companies to internationalise and scale. The manufacturing and internationally traded services companies that Enterprise Ireland works with are a critical source of existing employment and job creation in every county in Ireland and are spread across a wide range of sectors.

Enterprise Ireland’s Trade Missions and Events promote the capabilities of client companies to potential business partners and customers in international markets; a central element of the agency’s strategy for 2017 -2020: Build Scale, Expand Reach. In 2017 Enterprise Ireland ran 57 Ministerial-led international trade events, including trade missions to Canada, China and Oman.

On an annual basis, Enterprise Ireland publishes its schedule for Trade Missions and Events. This schedule is comprised of:

- Trade Mission / Outward Mission: Enterprise Ireland Trade Missions open doors for client companies seeking to meet potential buyers and access new markets. Clients are also afforded the opportunity to leverage the presence of a Government Minister to build relationships with key commercial contacts during the Trade Mission.

- Trade Visit / Fair: Enterprise Ireland organises group exhibition stands at many of the most important trade fairs around the world. Clients may take space on these group stands to showcase their products/services, meet new buyers/partners and gain market intelligence.

- Client Knowledge Forum: These events, which take place in Ireland, give clients insights on new markets and sectors, market trends and how to develop new skills in exporting.

- Inward Mission Events: in Ireland to which groups of overseas decision-makers are invited by Enterprise Ireland to meet prospective Irish suppliers. These missions are targeted at specific sectors.

- Market Study Visits: A market study visit is a once-off event with a group of three or more clients designed to educate clients on how a market or sector operates, and on the activities of their competitors.

This list of Trade Missions and Events is communicated to all client companies and is publicly available. Working with Enterprise Ireland’s Development Advisers and Market Advisers, client companies with ambition to enter new markets and grow business in existing international markets discuss their participation on the various trade missions and events as part of their overall business developmental plan.

On 12 March, Enterprise Ireland announced that it is set to undertake over 200 international and domestic trade events in 2018 to accelerate the number of Enterprise Ireland clients diversifying into new markets, beyond the UK and into the Eurozone and global markets. The number of trade events being undertaken represents a 50% increase on 2017, reflecting the challenge that Brexit poses for Irish businesses. 70 of these export focused trade events will be led by Government Ministers.

Due to the amount of analysis required to provide the detailed information requested in the Deputy’s questions, it has not been possible to provide the data in the time available for reply. Work has commenced to compile the information, which will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

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