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Minister Pat Breen TD leads 21 Enterprise Ireland companies on trade mission to Switzerland

Enterprise Ireland Accelerates Focus on Increasing Irish Exports to Europe as Brexit Response

Pat Breen TD, Minister for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection will lead Enterprise Ireland’s two-day trade mission to Switzerland, Ireland’s 5th largest merchandising trading partner, which commences tomorrow (2nd October 2018). The trade mission forms part of Enterprise Ireland’s Brexit response, with a focus on accelerating exports to Europe by 50% by 2020. 21 Irish companies are taking part in the trade mission with a focus on diversifying into the Swiss medtech, construction services and agritech sectors.

Speaking ahead of the trade mission, Minister Breen said; “I am delighted to lead this Enterprise Ireland trade mission to Switzerland which will introduce 21 Irish companies to potential Swiss business partners. Trade between Ireland and Switzerland is strong and growing, and this is an important initiative to deepen business relationships. Switzerland is Ireland’s 5th largest merchandising trading partner and this is indicative of the strength of the Swiss economy and industry. There are substantial growth opportunities and potential for increased collaboration within the key sectors of medtech, construction services and agritech for innovative and ambitious Irish companies. I wish all of the companies every success in pursuing the opportunities that will arise and increasing their presence in the Swiss market.”

Exports to Switzerland by Enterprise Ireland client companies increased by 8% last year to reach €330M in 2017.

The trade mission programme will include a visit to Roche Diagnostics, Rotkreuz where Enterprise Ireland will showcase the innovative capabilities of Ireland’s medtech sector. Ireland is an emerging global medtech hub and the second largest exporter of medtech products in Europe.
The delegation will visit the EmpaNEST Research Facility to facilitate new Swiss - Irish business relationships in the construction sector and to help unlock new business opportunities. On Wednesday, the participating agritech companies will visit the Swiss Future Farm Research Facility to highlight the high quality of new agricultural technologies coming out of Ireland.

Minister Breen will also address an audience of over 100 Swiss and Irish business leaders in Zurich on Tuesday night and attend the Swiss Irish Business Network 10th Anniversary reception in Zurich on Wednesday before returning to Dublin.

Leo McAdams, International Sales & Partnering Manager, Enterprise Ireland, who is accompanying Minister Breen to Switzerland said: ‘Trade Missions such as this one, co-ordinated by Enterprise Ireland on behalf of the Government of Ireland, present enormous opportunities to the participating companies. As our clients prepare for Brexit, supporting their diversification in to new markets, particularly within the European markets, is a key priority for us. Enterprise Ireland will also bring trade missions to Spain, Germany and the Netherlands in the next 3 months as we work towards our target of delivering 60,000 new jobs and an additional €5 bn of exports by 2020.”

ENDS

For further information, please contact:
Marika MacCarvill, International PR, Enterprise Ireland
Tel: 00 353 86 171 2568