Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 256: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the number of new markets for Irish exports identified and or created in each of the past three years and to date in 2010; their value on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36816/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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In 2010 Enterprise Ireland (EI) has been working closely with its clients to maintain and build their business relationships with existing key customers and target and win new customers in existing and new markets. There has been a large number of targeted sector visits and a number of cross-sectoral visits led by Government Ministers to strategic overseas markets with an emphasis on High Growth and Emerging markets.

EI continue to identify and support the entry of appropriate clients to the selected markets of Brazil, Russia, India, China, the Gulf, Japan and most recently South Africa. Of particular significance is the work that is already underway with the construction products and services sector in the Gulf States.

Enterprise Ireland has identified and targeted a number of sectors and sub-sectors in individual markets that offer clear opportunities for those EI clients that have the expertise and experience to potentially win sales and grow exports in each market. A successful example of this approach has been the work around the construction sector in the Gulf States. By recognising and validating the opportunity in construction in the Gulf and matching it to the capabilities of a cohort of Irish companies Enterprise Ireland built the knowledge and expertise in the market to facilitate clients in building contacts and relationships thus enabling them to win significant business.

The High Growth Markets (Brazil, Russia, India, China, Gulf States, Japan and South Africa) are a diverse group of markets at different stages of development and sophistication. Over the period 2008-present the combined total number of clients doing business in these markets has risen by 13% from 932 to 1,052. EI clients have also established 76 new presences in these markets during 2008 and 2009 reflecting this increased commitment to these markets. Work is also underway to identify opportunities that may be available to clients in other emerging economies such as Indonesia, a significant market with untapped potential. Growth was achieved despite the difficult trading conditions encountered from the second half of 2008 onwards.

EI is continuing to work with a large number of companies to target and win business right across the globe and demand from companies in targeting export markets is very strong as evidenced by EI's recent International Markets Week (20th September – 23rd September) in Ireland when EI's International staff met with over 670 Irish companies (>1,700 meetings) to agree joint action plans to target export market opportunities. These action plans are now already underway.

Details on the performance of Ireland's merchandise and services exports to priority markets are detailed below.

Table 1: Ireland's Merchandise Exports 2007 – 2010

Source: CSO

Table 2: Ireland's Services Exports 2007 – 2008 (latest year for which individual country figures are available from the CSO)

Source: CSO

*Does not include confidential figures for Kuwait

Questions Nos. 257 to 259, inclusive, answered with Question No. 250.