Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 703: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of new markets for Irish goods and services which have opened up in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26004/05]

Michael Ahern (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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In 2004, export sales from Enterprise Ireland client companies increased, reaching €10.167 billion, a rise of 5.6% on 2003. The largest exports sector was food and the consumer retail sector, which totalled €6.8 billion, a growth of 4.1%. The largest growing sector was software, services and emerging sectors which increased 10.4% to €1.2 billion. Industrial and life sciences products grew 3.8% to €1.9 billion.

Overall, clients with Enterprise Ireland support won 863 new customers, distributors or partners in export markets in 2004, mostly in northern Europe and Asia. In addition, 154 Enterprise Ireland client companies established an overseas market presence during the year and 177 companies entered new export markets.

Asia showed the largest growth in EI client company exports at 19.6%, bringing total exports to the region to €501.5 million. Food and consumer retail was again the largest sector at €222.7 million, a growth of 8.8%. Exports of industrial products rose 50.5% to €100.3 million with electronics, engineering and life sciences and chemicals performing very strongly. In total, 28 EI client companies chose Asia for their new export markets, reflecting the growing strength and potential of the region in world trade. A total of 235 companies secured new customers, distributors and partners in the region.

Exports to southern Europe, the Middle East and Africa rose 7.7% to €940.6 million. The largest sector of exports to the region was again food and consumer retail with €677.9 million. The largest growth area in these markets was industrial products which rose 14.6% to €103.2 million. A total of 75 new customers, distributors or partnerships were appointed and 15 clients established a presence in the market. Twenty clients also began exporting to the region.

Northern Europe continues to be the largest export market. Exports to northern Europe increased by 7.2% to €6 billion. The largest growth was in digital media, e-learning and education, which grew 23.5% to €56.6 million. A total of 47 companies established a new marketing presence in northern European markets and 120 appointed new customers, distributors or partners. A total of 9,528 client/buyer meetings took place in 2004 across all sectors and markets. Of these, Asia accounted for 2,904; northern Europe had 2,556; the Americas 1,989; Germany, central/eastern Europe and the Balkans 1,256 and there were 823 in southern Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Over the past 12 months, Enterprise Ireland organised overseas trade missions and trade fairs to countries in Europe, North and South America, the Middle East and Asia. New market opportunities were targeted in China, Korea, Japan, Iran and the Gulf and New Zealand and Australia, leading to direct sales, partnering and distribution opportunities for client companies. Of particular significance was the trade mission to China last January which was led by the Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern. This was Ireland's largest ever trade mission, involving a total of 121 companies in a range of sectors, and led to contracts involving a sum of the order of €125.8 million.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 705: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the countries which are Ireland's newest and most lucrative trading partners in respect of both imports and exports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26006/05]

Michael Ahern (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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Enterprise Ireland's 2004 annual business survey showed that, overall, Irish companies delivered a very good export performance last year, with new export sales increasing by 5.6% on 2003. Inevitably, the most long established markets are the most lucrative and, indeed, bearing in mind that CSO data indicate that Ireland already trades with almost 200 country locations, it is difficult to provide data in terms of the "newness" of particular markets. That said, northern Europe, including the United Kingdom, continued to be the more lucrative export region for EI client companies increasing by 7.2% to €6 billion last year. The UK remained the single best export market for EI client companies overall with total exports in the region of €4.6 billion. Estimates suggest that exports to Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden all grew. Client company exports to some central European countries are also estimated to have grown.

Exports to the Americas' region increased by 1% to €1.1 billion. Within the region, Canada is estimated to have demonstrated a good performance. The US remains the second largest market for EI client companies at €900 million in 2004. Asia showed the largest growth in exports for EI client companies, growing by nearly 20% in 2004. Asia is a relatively new export market for Irish companies and continues to demonstrate huge potential.

With regard to our principal trading partners for imports, the top ten countries from whom Ireland imports most are, in descending order, Great Britain, USA, Germany, China, France, Japan, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Italy and South Korea.