Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline any expected economic benefits arising from the Africa Ireland Economic Forum hosted by his Department; and his plans to increase trade with Africa in 2013. [50102/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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In September 2011, I launched the new Africa Strategy of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade at the first Africa Ireland Economic Forum in Dublin. The Strategy builds on Ireland’s longstanding relationship with Africa, based on political support and the Irish people’s commitment to working to end poverty and hunger in some of the poorest countries on the continent. It explicitly recognises the role which greater economic and trade cooperation can make to relations between Ireland and Africa, and to development in Africa. The second Africa Ireland Economic Forum was held in Dublin on 22 October 2012. It was attended by over 250 people, including representatives from 160 Irish companies as well as officials and business representatives from 25 African countries. The theme of the Forum was “Building on Success” and participants heard from a wide range of Irish businesses who have successfully engaged in the African Market. I addressed the Forum and held discussions with many of those present, from Ireland and from Africa. I am confident that the Forum and the work of my Department and our Embassies abroad are giving added impetus to the development of trade and investment between Ireland and Africa.

A recent study by Barclays Bank of 200 companies in Ireland has found that some 91% of respondents believe that there is untapped potential for Ireland in Africa. These findings echo the reports from our eleven Embassies in Africa which all report increased interest in bilateral trade between Ireland and Africa. I visited a number of African countries earlier this year and was impressed by the rapid pace of change at a political and economic level and the strong entrepreneurial spirit that I witnessed. We will continue to pursue a strong trade promotion agenda in key growth markets across Africa in the coming months. This week the Minister of State for Trade and Development, Joe Costello T.D., is travelling on trade promotion business to South Africa and Nigeria, two markets where Irish exports increased in 2011 by 9% and 40% respectively. He will also travel with officials from Enterprise Ireland and Bord Bia on the first ever trade focussed visit from Ireland to Ghana.