Vol. 561 No. 4
201 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the efforts being made to increase exports in view of the current economic situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4755/03]
In the past 18 months, exporters have faced a difficult trading environment as the global economy has slowed down. As it is not clear that a significant recovery will occur in the short-term, the Government, through Enterprise Ireland, has been assisting exporters by focusing on actions with near to market impact.
This approach is focused on internationalisation and seeking new markets by making a sustained effort to help Irish companies gain access to potential export market opportunities and raise their level of innovation both in product and process terms. A number of new initiatives are being introduced in 2003, such as the introduction of an in-market mentor panel in the UK and in key European markets.
The following lists the current activities being undertaken by Enterprise Ireland to assist companies in internationalisation and in finding new markets: running workshops, seminars and exploratory market visits to familiarise companies with the requirements of successful export market penetration; providing access to international market reports and undertaking research on behalf of clients, or groups of clients, to identify specific opportunities; identifying, recruiting or upskilling key marketing personnel and specialist consultants; providing access to potential buyers-partners-distributors through individual itineraries, trade missions, participation at trade fairs or through introductions to buyers on inward missions; and providing incubator space in overseas markets for early stage market entrants and supporting these incubators with back-up services.
Enterprise Ireland is also seeking to raise the level of innovation in client companies, both in products and process terms, by supporting individual company applied research programmes through the RTI initiative and supporting the applied research programmes in the research institutes – including third level colleges – and developing mechanisms for the transfer of technologies from the research institutes into commercial projects.
