Written answers

Wednesday, 28 November 2007

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Export Markets

8:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 196: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he has taken or proposes to take to improve the prospects for Irish exporters to the US; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31660/07]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Despite the difficulties posed by the decline in the exchange rate of the US Dollar against the Euro, which is outside our control, my Department and Enterprise Ireland are working to ensure that our exports to that country, which our single biggest export market, are maintained. Figures for the first 8 months of this year show that merchandise exports to the US were actually up slightly on the same period in 2006, despite this pressure. Earlier this year I led a Trade Mission of 34 Irish companies to New York, Boston and Washington. The outcome was very satisfactory and the companies announced over $40 million in new business sales and partnership deals with US customers, during that mission.

Enterprise Ireland (EI) have five offices in the United States and their primary focus is to increase sales and partnership deals for EI client companies in the US market. There are over 200 EI client companies in 1,300 locations across the US. These companies employ over 80,000 people in 50 States. EI's work is facilitated through client-buyer introductions, market intelligence support in market entry/validation and an extensive range of focused group projects, targeted at specific industries or regional areas. In the coming years, EI will work intensively with its client companies to grow their business. In 2006, exports by Irish owned companies to the US reached $1.7 billion, which is an 8% increase on 2005. To date in 2007, Enterprise Ireland clients have opened 24 new offices in the US. I am therefore satisfied that significant progress is being made in this market.

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