Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 12: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress that he has made in relation to improving access to export markets for small and medium enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27517/12]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Driving export growth is central to our economic recovery and it is a key focus of the Government's Action Plan for Jobs. Enterprise Ireland (EI) has established a new Potential Exporters Division, a key measure in the Action Plan for Jobs. Its role is to stimulate greater activity within companies across all regions and to reorient those demonstrating real growth potential from the domestic to the international market place. The new unit provides assistance designed to aid client companies investigate, prepare and execute an international strategy including:

· Practical business advice, information and market intelligence

· Targeted funding supports where appropriate

· Suitable training and development

So far this year EI has held six Export Awareness Events around the country with the next one taking place on 12th June. Approximately 200 companies have attended these events with more than 1,200 companies contacted and invited. EI has commenced a number of two day "Exploring Exporting" workshops with over 40 companies participating. Further events and workshops will continue to be rolled out during the year.

Enterprise Ireland's 29 overseas offices and international networks have an important role to play in the internationalisation of EI's established and start-up client companies, through positioning them to meet the needs of specific international market and guiding them in the right direction regarding market contacts and introductions to potential buyers. Through this network, EI clients have secured 294 new buyers this year, while 316 buyers have been attracted to engage with indigenous companies on international business opportunities.

Another essential support to underpin the export ambitions of SMEs is developing a wider network of EU Free Trade Agreements. These agreements increase market access for our exporters by reducing barriers to trade and investment, encourage the mutual recognition of EU standards so that technical barriers to trade are removed and generally make it easier and less costly for our exporters to trade. We are coming up to the first anniversary, on 1 July, when the first major FTA with Korea came into effect to improve market access to this powerful Asian economy. Other agreements are being negotiated with Canada, Singapore and Malaysia while talks about improving market access to Vietnam have just started. All these are markets that have been identified as priority markets in our Trade, Tourism and Investment strategy.