Minister Ahern opens first All Island Competitiveness Forum

North South Co-Operation Can Improve Competitiveness

Mr Michael Ahern, T.D., Minister for Trade and Commerce at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment stated today (18^th February 2003) "real improvements in the competitiveness position, North and South, can be achieved by sharing our collective experiences, knowledge and expertise." Minister Ahern was speaking at the first All-Island Competitiveness Forum at the Fitzpatrick Bunratty Hotel.

The Minister went on to caution "competitiveness is a crucially important strategic issue facing our island economy at the present time. The challenge is to maintain economic prosperity at a time when global economic forces and rising domestic costs are undermining competitiveness." The Minister stated that North South co-operation provides a strategic partnership to assist in identifying appropriate policies to ensure that we protect our employment and prosperity. He added that the Forum is an excellent example of such co-operation. He pointed out that, in particular, the skills base of our workforces must be developed so that they are rich in technological, scientific and research capability because, he said, innovation through the practical application of our knowledge recourses was the sine qua non for new and sustainable employment opportunities throughout the island.

Minister Ahern presented the opening address to the All-Island Competitiveness Forum, which was organised by InterTradeIreland in collaboration with the National Competitiveness Council and the Northern Ireland Centre for Competitiveness. Ms Deborah Wince-Smith President of the US Council on Competitiveness also addressed the Forum, whose participation arose out of the US/Ireland Business Summit in Washington last September.

Minister Ahern said he expected "that insightful conclusions and action options will emerge from the Forum which may be advanced not only in an all-island context, but on an EU-wide basis thanks to the unique opportunities coming our way in the upcoming Irish Presidency of the EU and our hosting later this year of the World Economic Forum's European Competitiveness Summit."

ENDS