24th January 2018
The Minister for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, Pat Breen TD, last night welcomed guests to a reception hosted by the Irish Embassy in London for the British Irish Chamber of Commerce (BICC).
The purpose of the event was to highlight the strong trading relationship that exists between Ireland and the UK and the importance of ensuring that these links are protected and developed in the future. At the event, representatives of Enterprise Ireland, Tourism Ireland and IDA Ireland outlined their agencies’ plans in support of business and trade between Ireland and the UK in 2018.
Speaking at the event, Minister Breen said “The trading relationship between the UK and Ireland is very significant with over €1.2 billion worth of goods and services traded between us every week. The UK remains Ireland’s largest export market while Ireland is the 5th largest export market for the UK. Our trading partnership is deep, mutually beneficial and longstanding and we must continue to ensure that it is protected and developed”.
At the event, Minister Breen acknowledged the work of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce and, in particular, its President Eoin O’Neill and Director General John McGrane, in developing and nurturing British-Irish trade and economic links. He also acknowledged the importance to the Irish economy of Irish companies trading with the UK and made particular reference to the excellent work of the various networks operating in the UK including the Irish International Business Network, the London Irish Construction Network, the London Irish Business Society, the London Irish Graduate Network, the Women’s Irish Network and the British Irish Trading Alliance – all of whom were represented at the event.
Minister Breen referred to the work being done by IDA Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland, Tourism Ireland, Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland to ensure clients are prepared for all global developments including, but not limited to, Brexit. He said: “ In the context of Brexit, our strategy is to minimise risks and maximise opportunities by ensuring the growth and resilience of enterprise across all sectors of the economy and to ensure that we are seen as an attractive and competitive research location. Market diversification and addressing the competitiveness challenge are necessary if we are to succeed. The range of activities by my Department and its agencies to support the broader enterprise sector has been clearly set out in the publication Building Stronger Business: Responding to Brexit by competing, innovating and trading which is available on dbei.gov.ie”.
In conclusion, Minister Breen said that notwithstanding the particular challenges posed by Brexit, Ireland would continue to foster the trading relationship with the UK.
Ends
For more information please contact the Press Office, Department of Business, Enterprise & Innovation at (01) 631 2200 or press.office@dbei.gov.ie.
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