ADDRESS BY MR. NOEL TREACY, T.D., MINISTER FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND COMMERCE AT THE SWEDISH/IRISH BUSINESS ASSOCIATION CRAB & OYSTER EVENING ON FRIDAY, 16TH OCTOBER, 1998 AT 6 P.M.

It is a great honour for me to be here with you all, this evening, to share with you, the fruits of our success as international trading partners. I note that trade in both our directions has expanded rapidly since the early 1990s. Sweden, is Ireland's twelfth largest export market and exports in 1997, were worth almost £530 million. Ireland's imports from Sweden, were worth over £280 million, last year.

I understand from our Resident Experts here, Mr Michael Treacy and Mr Peter Bennett of Enterprise Ireland, that trade is likely to continue to develop at an impressive rate in the years ahead. I want to congratulate and thank Mr Treacy, Mr Bennett, and their colleagues Eibhlin Curley, Eva Runhammar and Andras Sarkany, for the great work which they do here, for Ireland.

There has also been a major surge in Scandinavian, and Swedish visitors in particular, to Ireland. The number of visitors in recent years, from this area, has increased from 30,000 to almost 100,000. This is reflected in the fact, that three years ago, there were no direct flights, between Stockholm and Dublin and now, since 1 April, 1998, there are seven flights a week (Aer Lingus/Finnair, five, and SAS, two).

I want to sincerely thank your chairman, Mr Hans Wigholm and his Swedish colleagues, Ms Roisin Bermingham and her colleagues in the Irish Tourist Board here, alongwith Ms. Maj Tedblad of Aer Lingus for their collective efforts in promoting Irish tourism.

I know that the Swedes are very wise people. I have visible proof of this, in that Sweden is one of the few countries to show increased consumption of beef, in recent years. Over 12,000 tonnes of prime Irish beef was exported to Sweden, in the last year and I am sure an even larger amount, will be consumed here this year. At next year's meeting, may I suggest you have good wholesome Irish beef on the menu.

I am aware of the Swedish appreciation of our culture, particularly in the field of literature, music and dancing. U2 played to a sell out crowd here last year, as did "Lord of the Dance".

The Award of the Nobel Literature Prize to Seamus Heaney in 1995, sparked a renewed interest in Irish literature, following on from William Butler Yates, George Bernard Shaw, Samuel Beckett and others.

The relationship between our two countries has also been enhanced by visits at official level. The former President of Ireland, Mrs. Mary Robinson, visited your country, in April of last year, for the first State visit, by a National President of Ireland, to Sweden. Visits at Ministerial level, have increased dramatically to the benefit of both countries.

The relationship between our two countries is set to prosper and develop, particularly within the context of our joint membership, of the EU, and I hope that our visit to Sweden has been of some assistance, in this area.

In particular, I am absolutely delighted to be here this evening, to preside at the inaugural Swedish/Irish Business Association Award presentation. As a small open island economy, we are totally dependent on foreign earnings from a high level of exports to sustain continuous economic growth. We value very highly the growing business relationship between Sweden and Ireland. As just I mentioned, last year we shared a joint trade value in excess of 800 million Irish pounds in business between our TWO countries. It is our desire that this business continues to growth, in both directions.

Tonight, we are gathered here together to celebrate the recognition of our developing trade relationship. This first award, reflects Ireland's growing reputation in the production of computers and computer products and the development of a major software industry.

We are now the 2nd largest exporter of computer software products in the world, after the United States of America. We are very proud of this achievement and are totally committed to its continuous development. I am absolutely delighted that the decision by the Swedish Irish Business Association to make its inaugural award to A.C.T. Manufacturing Europe Ltd, Citywest, Dublin reflects the strength and skills contained in the Irish computer industry. On your behalf, I heartily congratulate, the Managing Director of to A.C.T. Manufacturing Europe Ltd, Mr Aubrey Nuzum and his company colleagues on being the recipients of this prestigious award.