Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
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137. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans regarding a trade mission to Russia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51564/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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My colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Mr Alan Kelly T.D., led an Enterprise Ireland trade mission to Russia from 7 to 10 October, 2013. Based in Moscow, this trade mission was organised with the support of the Irish embassy in Russia and included 20 best-in-class Irish companies from the aviation sector. Russia has become a key export market over the past two years for many of these companies and the mission was aimed at reinforcing the broad range of products and services they offer to Russian airlines and aviation buyers. The trade mission was built around Russia’s leading aviation forum, ‘Wings of Russia’, which Minister Kelly addressed. The Minister’s schedule during the visit included a series of meetings with representatives of the Russian Federation Government, Moscow City Government, Kaluga region Government, Russian Aviation Authorities, RosKosmos (the Russian Space Agency), meetings with Irish companies and their Russian partners and customers, and a series of events promoting the capabilities and strengths of Irish companies in the aviation sector.

Enterprise Ireland does not currently have plans for a further trade mission to Russia in 2014. However, the schedule for 2014 mission has yet to be finalised.