Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 184: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of people from Kildare South that recently took part in a trade mission (details supplied); the importance of such missions in view of the issues raised in a recent article in a local newspaper; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36919/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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As stated in question number 62 and 63 last week, IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment to Ireland and its regions. The marketing of individual areas, including Kildare, for new or expansion FDI investments and jobs is a day-to-day operational matter for the Agency. While I may give general policy directives to the Agency, I am precluded under the Acts from giving directives regarding individual undertakings or from giving preference to one area over others.

A central goal for IDA Ireland is the achievement of balanced regional development and, in line with the National Spatial Strategy, IDA Ireland is focused on delivering investments to all of the Gateway and Hub locations. In the case of County Kildare, IDA's strategy is to promote the whole county as part of an integrated East Region. In addition, the Agency continues to work with its existing client base in an effort to get them to grow and expand their existing operations. At present there are 25 IDA Ireland supported companies in Kildare employing 10,356 people.

In the current competitive global market, as Ireland competes for new investments at the highest end of the value chain, the concept of scale is crucial to our economic destiny. Leading corporations require a significant population of highly qualified talent, effective physical and digital infrastructure coupled with availability of sophisticated professional support services. If we are to continue being successful in realising a large proportion of our investments outside of the larger cities, all economic and social stakeholders will need to adhere to the framework on which the NSS is constructed. Future thinking and action must have a regional rather than a local bias and this requires a significant change in mindset.

The development of trade is a primary objective of Ireland's Asia Strategy, 1999-2009. China is key focus of this strategy, given its economy's significant and growing potential both as a consumer of Irish produced goods and services, and as a source of Foreign Direct Investment into Ireland. In this regard, it is vital that Ireland continues to deepen its relationship with Chinese business interests and with other key economic and political decision-makers in China. As part of the Asia Strategy, visits to countries such as China by the President, the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and other Government Ministers, with consequential reciprocal high-level political visits, have heightened political, cultural and economic awareness on both sides. They have also provided the basis for the further development of relationships between businesses leaders in both Ireland and China.

Exports to China continue to grow. In 2007, Irish merchandise exports were €1.3bn which is a 50pc increase on the previous year. For the first six months of this year, Irish exports to China recorded a further increase of 67%, compared with the same period in 2007. More than 80 Irish companies now have operations established in China. Clearly, China will also present significant inward investment opportunities for Ireland as its economy grows and develops.

I understand from Enterprise Ireland that a total of 11 people, representing 5 companies based in Co. Kildare, participated in the recent trade mission to China. The value of such trade missions to the Irish economy as a whole cannot be overstated, and are of even more importance now as we seek to position the Irish economy to deal with, and emerge strongly from, the challenges facing the global economy.