DFA&T To 'Support And Enhance Irish Business Overseas' - Flanagan

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, has hosted a special meeting of the Export Trade Council to discuss the steps needed to "support and enhance Irish business overseas in the wake of the British referendum decision to leave the European Union".

The meeting, held on Wednesday, 20 July, brought together the heads of six government departments, five state agencies and ten representatives of private sector exporters.

Speaking after the meeting, Minister Flanagan, said: "Today the ETC strongly affirmed that Ireland's future is at the heart of the European Union. That is the key message that we must send out to all our business partners and prospective investors.

"We had a very productive discussion which focused on how Ireland responds to the current challenges and opportunities. Ireland has a number of key markets where we have a strong, established presence, such as the UK, the US, France and Germany - these and other EU markets present opportunities to deepen our market penetration.

"In previous discussions at the Council, we identified market diversification as key mitigating factors in regard to risks to our economy. That indeed was reaffirmed at our discussions today, with particular reference to Brexit. In line with the intensification of this government policy, I have recently created new commercial attaché posts in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia and Romania, to enhance market access for Irish companies as part of my Department's new economic diplomacy strategy."

Minister Flanagan said that "in line with the programme for government" Ireland was diversifying and developing its market presence in emerging markets in Latin America and Asia, while Africa presents new opportunities that were illustrated by a "very successful meeting" of the Africa Ireland Business Forum.

"At the weekend I was in Ulaanbaatar at the Asia-Europe Summit (ASEM) Summit. I also visited Beijing. Following my consultations with a number of Asian partner countries, today I proposed that the next meeting of the Export Trade Council will focus on the Asia-Pacific region. I plan to update members on the Government's plan for a cross-sectoral strategy for the region in line with our Programme for Government commitments," Minister Flanagan added.

"I have tasked the Trade officials in my Department to establish a Trade Coordination Group involving all the Departments and Agencies represented on the ETC. The Group will meet monthly and its primary task will be to ensure an enhanced level of coordination and collaboration across all of the Departments and Agencies engaged in supporting Irish business overseas, under the aegis of the Council. Along with my Department's mission network of Embassies, Consulates and Honorary Consuls, the economic State Agencies are in the front lines in winning business and investment for Ireland overseas."

(MH/CD)