Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 350: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to the recent visit of his Minister of State to the Ukraine, the short term intentions and steps to be taken to increase business and trade between Ireland and the Ukraine; if his attention has been drawn to the interest of the Ireland/Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group in the matter; and the growing interest of Irish businesses which are in need of good quality assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27258/06]

Michael Ahern (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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Currently, the level of Irish trade with Ukraine is relatively small. Irish exports to Ukraine were only €23.7m in 2005, however this was an increase of 49% on 2004 figures. At the same time, Ukrainian exports to Ireland increased by 161% to €8.6m between 2004 and 2005.

Despite the low level of trade, Enterprise Ireland has, on average, personnel "in-market" in Ukraine every five to six weeks to support the endeavours of Irish companies seeking to establish a foothold in that country. This approach builds on an awareness raising seminar on the Ukraine market, held in Dublin in June 2005, and culminated in my leading Ireland's first ever Trade Mission to Ukraine last month. This Trade Mission attracted 21 Irish companies and organisations and resulted in over 100 buyer and partner meetings brokered by Enterprise Ireland with Ukrainian counterparts.

Enterprise Ireland has, over the past 18 months, built up a substantial network of Ukrainian contacts and support resources, and has focused its efforts on sectors such as IT and Telecoms, Financial Services and Banking Systems, Education, Medical Devices and Agricultural Machinery, which have been identified as markets likely to generate the most opportunities in the short to medium term for Irish industry. Linkages have been developed with local trade and business associations and with private contractors, to provide logistic support for Enterprise Ireland clients when they visit the Ukrainian market. Enterprise Ireland has also recently launched a Russian language website to promote Irish indigenous industry and the Irish economy in the former Soviet Union, and it is readily accessible as a valuable information resource for the large section of the Ukrainian population who are native and second language Russian speakers. In addition, I am aware that a number of private Irish companies and organisations are actively promoting Ukraine for production and manufacturing relocation purposes, which, though outside the remit of Enterprise Ireland, is another indicator of increased Irish Ukrainian economic interaction.

Aside from Enterprise Ireland, the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) has established a relationship with the State Committee of Ukraine for Technical Regulation and Consumer Policy (DSSU), and are expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the DSSU later this year, in the field of Standardisation, Conformity Assessment and Metrology.

Irish investment in Ukraine increased significantly in 2006, with a number of high profile transactions that will further increase Irish confidence in the Ukrainian market. Discussions have been ongoing for some time to conclude a Double Taxation Agreement, which would significantly reduce the barriers to international business and trade between Ireland and the Ukraine.

I am, of course, aware of and support the efforts of the Ireland/Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group in fostering and developing better political, social and business ties between Ukraine and Ireland. The activities of this group in encouraging closer links with Ukraine are very welcome.