Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 75: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which new markets for Irish manufactured goods and services have been identified in each of the past five years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27679/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy, the Government's Trade Strategy and Action Plan for the integrated promotion of overseas trade, tourism and investment, seeks to build on our strengths in existing markets and also to develop exports in emerging economies. This strategy has set a number of ambitious targets and its overall objective is to marshal and coordinate the resources of the State in a way that best supports companies which are trying to trade and grow their business overseas.

Implementation of the Strategy is driven by the Export Trade Council which has ensured that trade, tourism and investment teams, comprising Irish diplomatic and agency representatives have, through a joined-up approach, developed and are implementing market plans to support Ireland's trade objectives in many key export markets.

The UK, USA and our Eurozone partners continue to be key markets for Ireland, given our strong knowledge and understanding of these markets and our shared historical and cultural linkages. But we are also fully committed to developing and expanding engagement with key high potential markets such as Brazil, Russia, India, China, the Gulf States, South Korea and South Africa. Each of these has been designated a key priority market and in the five years between 2006 and 2010, the last year for which full export data is available, Irish exports to these countries have risen by 56% with merchandise exports rising by 37% and services exports by 72%.

Key instruments to pursue trade expansion are, of course, Trade Missions. In 2012 a total of 19 Ministerial-led Trade Missions are planned, including missions between now and the end of the year, to the USA, India, UK, Russia, France, Brazil, Italy, China, Japan, Canada (plus Seattle USA), South Africa and three Gulf States.

Enterprise Ireland is focused on helping its Irish client companies to maintain and win new sales from customers in international markets and has identified and targeted a number of priority sectors and sub-sectors in each individual market which offer clear opportunities. Enterprise Ireland is working with those clients which have the expertise and experience to win sales and grow exports in each market. The agency's overseas network of 29 offices is taking a highly sector-focused approach to markets which is yielding strong results in terms of export growth rates in priority high growth markets.