Vol. 438 No. 8
8 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade, in view of the vast potential which South Africa may present to Irish exporters in the future, the plans, if any, he has to open a Bord Tráchtála office in South Africa; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Irish trade with South Africa is currently at a relatively modest level, although our exports have shown encouraging growth in recent years. Exports in 1992 were worth £39.6 million and imports £13.4 million. There is undoubted potential for significant further development with the normalisation of the political situation and the successful conclusion of the Uruguay Round.
The enhanced trade prospects presented by the new situation was a significant factor in the Government's recent decision to open a resident embassy there. The new embassy will be an important additional resource for An Bord Tráchtála in its trade promotion efforts in South Africa where it already employs a resident trade consultant base in Johannesburg.
An Bord Tráchtála will, of course, be keeping the situation and their scale of operations under careful review to ensure that the interests of Irish exporters are fully catered for. To further develop commercial links between Ireland and South Africa, I will be leading a multi-sectoral trade mission there later this year. The mission is being organised by An Bord Tráchtála with the co-operation of the recently established Irish South African Trade Association. This will be the third trade mission since November 1991 and is further evidence of our ongoing commitment to developing this increasingly important market.
Perhaps the Minister for Tourism and Trade should also be the Minister for Foreign Affairs but if he brings back good news that would be as good a reason as any for going to these countries. Does he agree that exporters will have vast potential to secure markets in South Africa, especially in electronics, pharmaceuticals and food products, particularly food ingredients? Does he agree also that if we do not maintain a presence there, in other words, a Bord Tráchtála office, we could lose some of the potential market share to competitors?
I agree with the Deputy that exporters have vast potential as can be seen from the growth in the figures from a very small base. The fact that An Bord Tráchtála does not have a full-time office in South Africa at present —although we do have a trade consultant —is not deterring exporters from doing business there. We will be in a better position to assess the situation after the elections this year. If we deem it necessary, we will open a full-time office as South Africa could become a major outlet for exports. I intend to lead a trade mission there later this year but the dates have not yet been set.
If he has the statistics available, will the Minister indicate our main exports to South Africa?
In 1992, the figure for organic chemicals was £8.6 million; meat and meat preparations, £2.157 million; professional scientific and controlling apparatus, £2.115 million; office and automatic data processing machines, £8.306 million; medicinal and pharmaceutical products, £4.138 million; miscellaneous manufactured articles, £3.968 million; esential oils, perfumed materials, cleansing preparations etc., £1.731 million.
