Minister Martin Leads Enterprise Ireland Trade Mission to Egypt

The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin T.D. is today (05 November 2007) leading Enterprise Ireland’s largest trade mission to The Arab Republic of Egypt, comprising 18 companies from a diverse range of sectors.

The aim of the three-day visit is to expand trade links between Egypt and Ireland and facilitated meetings between indigenous Irish companies and potential trading partners in the Middle East & North African markets.

Over the course of the three days Minister Martin will meet with the Egyptian Minister for Trade and the Egyptian Minister for Telecommunications to raise the profile of Ireland as an attractive trading partner, offering competitive, high quality and technologically advanced products and services.

Speaking ahead of the visit, Minister Martin said,

“At €100m in 2006, bilateral trade between Ireland and Egypt is small in relation to the total trade of both countries but it is growing strongly. Irish companies increased their sales in Egypt by an impressive 26% last year.

“This growth can accelerate further over the next few years as Egypt offers significant market potential for Irish companies particularly in software development, financial services, construction, education and public sector/utilities. The calibre of Irish companies taking part in this mission demonstrates that Ireland is a world-class supplier of goods and services and an attractive trading partner offering competitive, high quality and technologically advanced solutions.”

Conor Fahy, Enterprise Ireland’s Regional Director for the Middle East said,

“We see opportunities for Irish companies in Egypt across many sectors and there has been very significant recent progress in terms of our actively seeking out new business. We also see opportunities in partnering with Egyptian companies and sharing their expertise, relationships and international market access strategies.

“This mission will enable Irish companies to meet with their existing and new Egyptian customers and partners, and develop new contacts, to explore opportunities for doing business together and hopefully boost Irish exports to this emerging market.”

ENDS/ETE1812