I and my colleagues in Government are firmly of the view that Ireland's economic recovery will be export led. In the Programme for Government, we committed to implementing a number of actions to achieve the maximum growth in exports, including the long-term development of new markets. One of the key actions in this regard is to progressively implement the recommendations in the Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy Strategy.
This Strategy is an action plan for improving trade, tourism and investment links with new and fast-developing markets. It sets out cross-sectoral priorities and a series of recommended actions that will enable the export sector to realise its potential for growth in coming years.
To take forward the recommendations within the Strategy and to coordinate our efforts to expand trade links in new and existing markets, the Government has also committed to establishing an Export Trade Council.
Under the new arrangements for trade promotion, my Department will have responsibility for managing the Export Trade Council, which I will chair. As well as Government and State Agency representatives, it will have private sector representation and draw on the experience of those directly involved in growing export oriented business.
This Council will examine how we can ensure that every opportunity possible is taken to develop links and enhance trade relations with existing and new partners, within and outside the EU, including in emerging high growth markets.
Discussions on the practical arrangements for the transfer of enhanced responsibilities for trade promotion from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to my Department are currently being finalised. Once this has been done, I intend to put in place arrangements for the first meeting of the Export Trade Council.