Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 July 2023
89. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to report on the work of the Enterprise Ireland office in Quebec, Canada, since its establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33129/23]
View answerEnterprise Ireland officially opened a Montréal office in November 2021 as part of the Government’s first post Covid trade visit to Canada and US. There is a team of six market advisers dedicated to the support of client companies targeting the Canadian market, working in close collaboration with Team Ireland. The Toronto and Montréal offices cover the entirety of Canada, supported where necessary by local specific subject matter expertise (i.e. Pathfinders, Business Accelerators)
Sectors of focus include Fintech and Financial Services, Cybersecurity, Technology and Services, Lifesciences and Digital Health, Industrial Technologies, Engineering and Sustainability/ Cleantech.
EI engages directly with local industry and trade stakeholders in Quebec to advance the development of Irish companies, including Ireland Canada Chamber of Commerce Montreal, Montreal International, Invest Quebec, Zone Agtech, Aero Montreal and the local business community.
EI’s Canada market strategy has an emphasis on one-to-one engagement with Irish companies to support them start and scale in the Canadian market.
Other specific Quebec engagements include:
• Aerospace Market Study Visit in 2019, Montreal is the 3rd largest aerospace cluster globally.
• Targeting of Quebec based buyers, partners and distributors for key client sectors
• Attendance at Expo-Champs Agri Show in St Liboire.
• Canada team engagement with leading Montreal HQ’d companies targets for Irish client companies
• Ongoing collaboration with Ireland Canada Chamber of Commerce Montreal to develop strategic relationships with key business partners.
• Doing Business in Canada webinar series, with a Spotlight on Montreal
• Multi-sector Trade Visit to Montreal in 2021 led by Minister for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation.
• PR and communications activity to raise the profile of Irish innovation in Quebec
EI has just completed a recruitment process for a new Senior Market Advisor who will be focusing on Industrial Technologies and client relevant subsectors.
Canada is a key market of growth for Enterprise Ireland clients, and the ninth largest non-food market globally.
In the last two years, exports to Canada have increased by 24% while EI client companies’ total exports to Canada increased to €452m in 2022, an increase of 11% on the previous year.
