Minister Bruton leads trade mission of 36 Irish companies to France
Total of 199 companies involved in mission aimed at building on ¤10billion annual exports
29 June 2012
36 companies are travelling this morning (Saturday 30th June 2012) with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton on a 3-day trade mission to France, organised by Enterprise Ireland.
Exports of Irish-owned companies to France have been experiencing strong growth – 14% in 2011 – and total Irish exports to France are now worth ¤10billion per year. One of the key aims of the mission is to build on this momentum to further increase sales by Irish companies with existing and new local partners in France. A total of 199 companies, 53 Irish and 146 French, are involved in the mission which is part of Enterprise Ireland’s schedule of trade missions to key priority international markets to drive increased Irish exports.
The participating Irish companies are drawn from a range of sectors with a particular focus on highlighting the depth of capability Irish companies have to offer in agri-technology and the cleantech sectors.
Minister Bruton’s schedule during the visit includes a series of meetings across the Brittany and Paris regions with leading French companies and their Irish partners and events to promote Irish exporters in key sectors: agri-technologies, cleantech, engineering and construction. This intensive schedule reflects the importance which the Government attaches to Ireland’s economic and trade relationship with France.
This is the ninth major trade and investment mission Minister Bruton has undertaken sine taking office.
Speaking before his departure Minister Bruton said: ‘Two-way trade between Ireland and France is currently running at record levels and there is a clear opportunity for further substantial growth over the next three years. France is now Ireland’s fourth largest export market and the third largest market for Irish-owned company exports. The continued strong growth of Irish companies exports to France, at 14% in 2011, represents an excellent performance and highlights that there are significant further opportunities for increased trade and partnerships between Irish and French companies.
‘Jobs are at the very top of this Government’s agenda, and a central part of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs is to increase export activity with key markets such as France. Our trade relationship with France is already very strong and this mission is about cementing and building on these existing links and opening new doors for increased export business and collaborative business ventures’.
Enterprise Ireland’s CEO Frank Ryan who is accompanying Minister Bruton on the mission added: ‘France is the third largest export market for Irish-owned companies and a significant trading partner with Ireland. Ministerial led missions to strategically important markets and trading partners such as France are a key part of Enterprise Ireland’s strategy to further scale our bilateral trade and exports to established markets. Exports of Irish-owned companies to France grew by 14% in 2011, reflecting the demand for the world class goods and services which Irish companies have to offer. There are excellent growth opportunities for innovation-led, export focused Irish firms in the French market and Enterprise Ireland is on hand to help those companies in this market. A large number of Irish companies are already operating successfully in France and we are confident that a number of further business successes will result from this trip’.
ENDS
For further information contact:
Eileen Banks, Press Officer, Enterprise Ireland, +353 1 7272805; +353 87 2445814; eileen.banks@enterprise-ireland.com
Editors Notes
This is the ninth major trade/investment mission the Minister has travelled on since taking office, following:
- Four IDA investment missions, two to the USA east coast, one to the west coast and one encompassing the East Coast, South and Mid-West
- Two Enterprise Ireland trade missions, one to Saudi Arabia and India, one to the south-eastern USA, accompanied by a total of 80 Irish companies looking to break into new export markets
- A 7-day joint IDA/EI mission to China led by the Taoiseach
- A Saint Patrick’s Day trip to the west coast of the USA, which included several meetings with IDA and EI target and client companies
France is the fifth largest economy in the world. Its industrial sector represents around 19% of GDP and its strongest manufacturing sectors are motor vehicles, pharmaceuticals, transport equipment and aerospace (civil and military). Manufacturing accounts for around three-quarters of total exports of goods and services. Agriculture’s share of economic activity has fallen sharply in recent decades, although it remains higher than many other western countries at 2.1% of GDP. Reducing oil dependence has been a long term priority; to that end France is now second largest producer of nuclear generated power in the world (although as part of his election campaign President Hollande pledged to reduce France’s dependence on nuclear energy from its current level of 85% of needs to 50% by the year 2025).
France is Ireland’s 5th largest market for merchandise and 4th largest market for services. Ireland exported ¤4,559 m worth of goods in 2010 and ¤5109m worth of services bringing the total value of Irish exports to France to ¤9.6 billion. 2011 saw a further 10% growth in the value of goods exported to France, to ¤5,022 million. The balance of trade, structurally positive, is almost 2:1 in Ireland’s favour. The total amount of bilateral trade in 2010 was ¤14.8 bn (9591m + 5196m). Major exports to France include pharmaceuticals, food and computer software. Notwithstanding the economic challenges facing the Eurozone and France’s reduced growth projections, more and more Irish companies are seeking to do business in France.
Extracts from the Minister’s schedule:
Saturday 30th June
10am Depart Dublin
12.50 Arrive RENNES
13.15 Transfer to Lorient (2 hours by car)
Lunch en route with briefing on afternoon events
16.00 Visit to French company DCNS, Lorient, with irish company Openhydro. DCNS is one of Europe’s largest shipbuilders and Openhydro is an Irish tidal technology company. Presentations by DCNS & Openhydro, followed by tour of facility
17.30 Tourism Ireland Reception, Quai Ouest
Sunday 1st July
8am – 10.45 Tourism Ireland event, Volvo race Village, Lorient. Including breakfast on LE Aisling followed by Volvo Ocean Race Lorient – Galway departure ceremony
18.00 Informal Company Meetings, Rennes. Meetings with Irish exporting companies involved in the French market as well as their French partners.
20.00 Networking reception, Rennes, involving Mayor of Rennes, Embassy, Enterprise Ireland, IDA, Tourism Ireland, Bord Bia
Monday 2nd July
8.30- 10.50 Sustainable Agriculture Forum with Irish and French companies
11.30 Round Table discussion with French media and business figures on the Irish economy, followed by interviews with French media
16.30 Event at offices of Morgan McKinley, Paris
18.30 Cleantech Innovation Forum, Embassy
20h00 Networking Reception
ENDS
Last modified: 30/06/2012
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