Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Trade Missions

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 November 2021

Tuesday, 30 November 2021

Ceisteanna (142)

Sorca Clarke

Ceist:

142. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a trade mission to Australia is planned for early in 2022. [58522/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Each year, Enterprise Ireland offers a programme of trade missions and events which support the goal of securing high-level market access for companies based in Ireland who are aiming to grow business overseas and increase domestic employment.

In recent years, the majority of Ministerial-led trade missions have taken place to the Eurozone, North America and Asia Pacific, which represented the strongest growth opportunities for Irish companies. These trade missions focused on promoting the innovative capabilities and competitive offerings of Irish companies to international buyers in sectors including internationally traded services, fintech, high-tech construction, engineering, ICT and lifesciences.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Ministerial-led trade missions and events took place virtually throughout Quarters 1 to 3 of 2021. There were no physical Ministerial-led trade missions planned for Australia in 2021 due to travel restrictions, therefore the focus of Enterprise Ireland teams on the ground remained on working one to one with the 300+ companies doing business in Australia.

Physical Ministerial-led trade missions recommenced in September 2021 with missions taking place to the UK, France and Germany and to the UAE and Qatar in October 2021and to Canada and the USA and to Saudi Arabia and Dubai in November 2021. A further trade mission to Finland and Liverpool is taking place this December.

There are no plans at present for a Ministerial-led trade mission to Australia in early 2022. My Department is currently in contact with Enterprise Ireland with a view to developing a Ministerial-led Trade Mission Programme for 2022 and no decisions have yet been made in relation to the final Programme. While the 2022 Programme is being developed, Enterprise Ireland is also making plans for a robust programme of in-market events for 2022 as Covid-19 restrictions begin to lift globally.

My Department will continue to work closely with its agencies to assess opportunities to help Irish companies to access new markets and to increase the levels of foreign direct investment into Ireland, including in markets in the Asia-Pacific region such as Australia.

Barr
Roinn