Showcase Ireland is Ireland's largest trade fair - Minister Kitt Enterprise Ireland brings international buyers to Showcase Over 40% of sales transacted at Showcase this week will be export orders - Kitt Internet Powerful tool to boost Irish exports - Kitt

Some 12,000 buyers, including an estimated 2,000 overseas buyers from the UK, Continental Europe, North America, Australia and Japan are in Dublin this week for Showcase 2000, Ireland's Craft, Gift and Fashion Trade Show now in its 24th year.

Speaking today (Monday 24th January, 2000) at Showcase 2000, Mr Tom Kitt, T.D., Minister for Trade said "I am delighted to be here today to witness the huge talent on display with over 700 Irish manufacturers and suppliers exhibiting here today. I am also very pleased that the increasing number of overseas buyers attending the fair is the result of a major year long promotional drive by Enterprise Ireland's world-wide network of offices. Giftware, Crafts and fashion are areas in which Ireland excels. More than 40% of sales transacted at Showcase this week will be export orders."

Among the overseas buyers represented at the show are senior buyers from leading UK Department Stores including Marks & Spencer, K Samuel Ltd, House of Fraser and from the US, household names such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Talbots, QVC and HSN (TV home shopping channels and etailers). From Japan, Fujisankei, a major TV shopping and mail order firm are represented at the fair.

Minister Kitt stressed the importance of the Internet as a means of buying and selling products. He said "using the Internet and developing the capacity to do business on the World Wide Web is especially important for SME's located in the regions and for those who wish to trade in global markets. E business and the Internet represent a significant marketing opportunity for Consumer Products Companies."

Welcoming the Minister's comments Mr Giles O'Neill, Manager, Consumer Products, Enterprise Ireland said "the internet is a powerful marketing tool for Irish exports and Enterprise Ireland are actively encouraging all companies including consumer products companies to adopt an E-business strategy. Last year we launched an e business unit, organised a series of workshops throughout the country and have recently launched an E-commerce resource web site for Irish companies wishing to take their business on-line."

He continued "We are also actively targeting electronic retailers "etailers" to introduce Irish products to the fast expanding Internet Marketplace. Enterprise Ireland is working directly with leading web-sites in the US focusing on the huge opportunities for Irish companies presented by the explosion of online shopping. The online gift market is forecast to increase from $1.2 billion in 1998 to more than $17 billion in 2004."

This year 550 retail and specialist buyers from North America will attend Showcase 2000. This is the largest contingent of overseas buyers at the show and they include representatives from Internet Shopping sites, leading US department stores, mail order specialists, corporate gifts companies and owners of Irish and Ethnic stores channels. There is also a significant increase in buyers from the Nordic countries, Belgium and Denmark.

Showcase Ireland is Ireland's largest trade fair. It is the flagship of the Crafts Council of Ireland and is staged annually as part of the Council's ongoing promotion of the crafts sector at home and abroad.