Minister Michael Ahern launches ‘Trading for Economic and Social Development’

Minister for Trade and Commerce, Mr. Michael Ahern T.D., today (Wednesday 29^th June 2005) launched the Government’s revised statement on national trade policy, ‘Trading for Economic and Social Development’. Speaking at the National Trade Forum in Farmleigh, Minister Ahern said “International trade has been fundamental to Irish economic development. There is a direct link between the internationalisation of our economy and our national economic success.”

“Trading for Economic and Social Development’ recognises this link, and restates the Government’s commitment to ensuring that it continues to be adequately recognised and taken into account in wider economic policy formulation and programming,” he added.

The statement assesses the importance of the European Union and the World Trade Organisation to Ireland’s trade, as well as offering an analysis of our current trading position by sector. It also includes a chapter dealing with investment, both inward and outward, reflecting the emerging trend within Irish business to develop international linkages through investment as well as through export.

“Overseas investment on the part of Irish business is growing, in both traditional and new market sectors,” noted the Minister. “This represents a welcome internationalisation which will pay dividends to the Irish economy through the development of higher-value business services here in Ireland.”

Reflecting the Government’s commitment to ensuring that the development dimension be reflected appropriately in all policy areas, the statement also takes account of issues of relevance and concern to the developing world.

“I am particularly pleased to note the involvement of development interests in the drafting of this statement,” said the Minister. “We are committed to ensuring that this level of coordination be maintained in the formulation of trade policy in the future.”

Minister Ahern launched the statement at the initial meeting of the National Trade Forum, which is to be a new mechanism for wider-ranging consultations and involvement at the initial stages of trade policy formulation or adaptation. The Forum, which will be convened under the auspices of Forfás, the agency that advises Government on enterprise and related policies, will allow for effective consultation of all relevant interests.

The Minister also indicated that this new consultative mechanism, and the contribution that it makes over time to ensuring the contemporary relevance of national trade policy and practices in a dynamic world trading environment, will be kept under review by his Department, officials of which will be actively involved in the work of the new National Trade Forum.

ENDS/TC 163