Ireland Should Consider Expanding Embassy Base

Ireland needs to significantly invest in trading opportunities with the BRIC countries in order to build sustainable future employment opportunities, according to John Power, Director General of Engineers Ireland.

He was speaking as an Engineers Week 2012 survey of over 1,200 engineers indicated that 64% believe Ireland is not doing enough to promote trade links with countries such as China and the other BRIC economies. With Ireland now facing a referendum on the European Stability Treaty, almost all engineers surveyed (92%) agreed that Ireland should resist European pressure to change our corporate tax rate.

The third day of Engineers Week 2012 features the McLaughlin Lecture by Liam Madden of Xilinx and a Women in Engineering Role Model Day event organised by DIT Kevin Street to highlight the role of women in engineering and technology in Ireland.

"There has been much talk about embassies recently and perhaps the focus needs to be on expanding our embassy base to build on trading opportunities in the BRIC countries rather than continuing to focus on traditional markets and traditional locations. Without these new frontiers, we will fail to create new sustainable international markets for our goods and services which may result in us failing to create the new jobs our economy needs," Mr Power warned.

Power said the high levels of economic growth and consumer activity in the BRIC countries has the potential for Ireland to leverage its expertise in areas like engineering and technology to create new opportunities for trade with these countries.

"The continuing uncertain state of the European economy places great importance on the drive to create new commercial, business and technological links with emerging markets. The Government needs to continue prioritising its support for Irish companies to generate business interests in countries like China, India and Brazil, as well as facilitating greater investment from these countries in Ireland. Failure to do so could be an opportunity missed when economic activity in traditional markets such as the U.S. and Europe is so sluggish."

(CD/GK)