Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 April 2018
36. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans for trade mission visits to the United Arab Emirates or Saudi Arabia in 2018 and 2019; her further plans to highlight human rights issues at these trade missions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16788/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnterprise 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.
On an annual basis, Enterprise Ireland publishes its schedule for Trade Missions and Events. This schedule is comprised of:
- Trade Missions / Outward Missions;
- Trade Visits / Fairs;
- Client Knowledge Forums;
- Inward Mission Events;
- Market Study Visits
The annual list of Trade Missions and Events is communicated to all client companies and is publicly available, including on the Enterprise Ireland website.
On the 12th March 2018, 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.
At present, I have no plans to lead a trade mission to the United Arab Emirates or Saudi Arabia in 2018. Later in the year, my Departmental officials will begin discussions with Enterprise Ireland with regard to the proposed ministerial trade mission list for 2019, for my subsequent approval. As part of the implementation of the Agency's Trade Missions and Events Schedule for 2018, Enterprise Ireland is planning a trade mission to Saudi Arabia, UAE and Kuwait in early November. This mission will focus on developing business opportunities for Irish companies in the ICT, Fintech, Food and Agritech and Engineering/Construction sectors. It has been timed to coincide with the Gulf Food Manufacturing Exhibition in Dubai where Enterprise Ireland will support clients exhibiting on an Ireland stand. Ministerial leadership of this Mission has yet to be determined.
Enterprise Ireland also ran an international trade event to the annual 'Arab Health' Exhibition in Dubai in January of this year, which was led by the Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Jim Daly T.D. Arab Health is the largest healthcare exhibition and conference in the Middle East and North Africa region. The trade visit focused on maximising business opportunities for the 20 Enterprise Ireland clients exhibiting and participating.
The primary focus of all trade missions is to encourage business-to-business links and encourage investment and employment opportunities. To be effective in raising human rights issues with other countries we must do it in an appropriate way and at the right opportunity, so that our concerns are taken seriously and acted upon. Ireland has always been at the forefront internationally in raising human rights issues through bilateral contacts and especially through the European Union and the United Nations. We will continue to be a strong advocate for higher global standards that improve human rights, and encourage the highest standards of business conduct and corporate social responsibility.
