Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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66. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps being taken to improve trade with South Korea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1447/14]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Trade and investment promotion are key priorities for the Government, as part of its wider strategy to promote economic growth and employment. The Government is committed to developing Ireland’s trade and investment relationship with key markets in Asia, including the Republic of Korea (South Korea), to the maximum extent possible.

Korea is identified as a priority market under Ireland’s Trade Strategy, a review of which will be presented shortly. Implementation of trade priorities in Korea is led by the Local Market Team, chaired by the Ambassador and comprised of the Embassy, Enterprise Ireland, which has been present in the market since 2004, and the IDA, which reopened its office in Seoul in 2013. The Embassy and the Agencies in Seoul are co-located in an Ireland House.

The overall objective of the Embassy and the Local Market Team is to support and promote the encouraging increases in trade between Ireland and Korea which have been seen since 2011. Total bilateral trade in goods and services between Ireland and Korea in 2012 was €1.3bn, up from €1.05bn in 2011. Exports in services rose by €272m to €590 million in 2012. From January to October 2013 total merchandise trade with Korea was valued at €604 million up from €579 million in the same period in 2012.

Exports of Irish agri-food products to Korea have also increased, from €10.5m in 2010 to €21m in 2011 and to €23m in 2012. This represents a 121% increase from 2010-2012. The Embassy and Agencies will continue to use all opportunities through 2014 and beyond to build awareness among Korean government ministries, agencies and the private sector of Ireland’s economic recovery and opportunities for Korean business in Ireland; increase Irish exports to Korea, particularly from indigenous Irish companies; and, to promote awareness of and opportunities for investment in Ireland.

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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67. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade that steps being taken to improve trade with China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1448/14]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Developing Ireland’s trade and investment relationship with China is an ongoing priority for the Government. The importance of China as a trading partner for Ireland is reflected in the large number of high level visits that have taken place between Ireland and China in recent years, and the strong growth seen in many key sectors.

Total trade with China (including its various territories) exceeded €8 billion in 2012. Goods and services exports amounted to €5.4 billion, making China Ireland’s 9th biggest export market, and our largest in Asia. The Export Trade Council, which I chair, is responsible for the implementation of Ireland’s Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy. The Council includes relevant Ministers, heads of State Agencies involved in trade promotion, along with representatives of the private sector. The Trade Strategy, a review of which will shortly be presented by the Government, identifies China as a priority market.

Regular Ministerial visits play a major role in encouraging and facilitating trade and investment. I was invited by Foreign Minister Wang Yi to visit China in July/August 2013 and in addition to our bilateral meeting, I met with several senior members of the Chinese Government and held discussions on the full range of bilateral issues, including human rights. While in Beijing and Shanghai, I engaged in trade promotion activities involving a wide range of companies active across all sectors of the economy. Implementation of trade priorities in China is led by the Local Market Team, chaired by our Ambassador and comprising the Embassy in Beijing, the Consulate in Shanghai, and the relevant state agencies. Specific, focused assistance for Irish exporters is provided by the Local Market Team and Enterprise Ireland. EI works with companies to build knowledge and capability, provide mentoring and support, offer funding to explore opportunities, and to build trade links.

Export growth of 19% was recorded in 2012 to bring the total value of goods and services exported by Irish owned companies to China to €346m. Enterprise Ireland has set the objective of achieving exports of €600m by 2016 – an ambitious 73% growth rate over 2012 figures.

The priority target sectors for export development over the coming 3 year period are:

- Financial Services

- Clean Technologies (including Energy Efficiency and Green Buildings)

- Pharmaceuticals

- Information Technologies

- Medical Devices

- Education Services

- Agri-Technologies

- Equine Products and Services.

The value of Irish agri food and related exports to China grew from €167m in 2010 to €323m in 2012, an increase of 93%. Exports for the first 9 months of 2013 were €321m compared with €235m in the same period in 2012 (a 37% increase) and are estimated to be in excess of €400m by end of year. Bord Bia has also established a “Food Hub” in its office in Shanghai which provides a cost-effective way for Irish companies to achieve a presence within the market. At present nine companies are represented in the Bord Bia Food Hub.

My Department, in conjunction with the State Agencies, will continue to utilise all opportunities to promote increased trade and investment between Ireland and China, and to take full advantage of the substantial goodwill and positive relations that exist between our two countries.

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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68. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps being taken to improve trade with Japan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1449/14]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Trade and investment promotion are key priorities for the Government, as part of its wider strategy to promote economic growth and employment. The Government is committed to developing Ireland’s trade and investment relationship with Japan to the maximum extent possible. Japan is identified as a priority market under Ireland’s Trade Strategy, a review of which will be presented shortly.

Japan is Ireland’s 11th largest trading partner, with Ireland enjoying a trade surplus of 3:1. Total exports in 2012 were €4.8 billion while total imports were €1.6 billion. Japan is also a major source of Foreign Direct Investment in Ireland, with Japanese companies employing some 2,500 people here.

Implementation of our trade and investment priorities in Japan is led by the Local Market Team, chaired by our Ambassador and comprising the Embassy in Tokyo working with Enterprise Ireland and the IDA.

2013 provided particular opportunities to promote trade and investment with Japan. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the first Japanese Prime Minister to visit Ireland when he came to Dublin last June. The Taoiseach paid a return visit to Japan in December, during which it was announced that Japan had lifted restrictions on the exports of Irish beef to Japan. This key breakthrough followed extensive work over many years by the Embassy, the Department of Agriculture and others, and presents significant opportunities for Irish food exporters.

The Taoiseach also engaged in extensive trade promotion activities in Japan, and agreed a Joint Declaration with PM Abe which provides for cooperation across a wide range of economic and other sectors.

Approximately 50 Irish Companies have a presence in Japan, while there are seven tenants in Enterprise Ireland’s Tokyo office Incubation Centre. EI support to companies includes introductions to potential partners and customers, provision of specialist knowledge on the market place, advice on best routes to market and on the ground support in the incubation centre.

The Embassy and the State Agencies are also working closely to create an awareness of Ireland as a centre for Trade, Innovation and Investment using media, trade missions, networking/multi-sectoral events around St. Patrick’s Day and other key events throughout the year.

The Government will continue to pro-actively utilise all opportunities to promote trade and investment links with Japan.

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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69. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps being taken to improve trade with India; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1453/14]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Developing Ireland’s trade and investment relationship with India is an ongoing priority for the Government. The Export Trade Council, which I chair, is responsible for the implementation of Ireland’s Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy. The Council includes relevant Ministers, heads of State Agencies involved in trade promotion, along with representatives of the private sector. Total merchandise trade with India in the period January-October 2013 was €539 million, with exports at €204 million and imports at €335 million. Exports in services to India grew by €382 million to €1, 413 million in 2012.

Since 2012, the Irish Embassy and State Agencies in India have worked to a joint strategy which sets out agreed priorities for the bilateral relationship with India.

This includes targets for increased trade, investment, tourism and education links between Ireland and India. The Embassy and Agencies work closely on implementing this strategy, regularly reviewing progress against agreed targets. The strategy focuses on India as a source of inward investment and on encouraging Irish business to investigate market opportunities in India. It also prioritises tourism and education to attract Indian nationals to Ireland and there has been strong growth in these sectors in recent years.

The strategy also commits the Embassy and Agencies to combine resources where possible in order to maximise their combined impact in a market of 1.2 billion people. One example of this was a television advertising campaign concerning the Irish cricket team in late 2012. This was co-funded by the Embassy and Agencies and projected Ireland as a tourism, education and investment destination to an audience of millions.

In addition, the Embassy regularly hosts events with or on behalf of Irish business and the State Agencies with a view to developing their network and client base within India. In 2013, several events were held on behalf of Ireland’s food and beverage industries, the pharmaceutical sector, the bloodstock industry, hotel and tourism sector, aviation services and education, amongst others.

In November 2013, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mr. Richard Bruton TD, led a trade and investment mission to India with the Embassy, EI and IDA. 42 Irish companies and Higher Education Institutions participated in the mission, which targeted sectors including technology, life sciences, financial services, engineering and education.

In 2013, Ireland’s international education sector in India has shown strong results with a year on year 120% increase in visa applications to study in Ireland. The target is to double the number of Indian students studying in Ireland to 2, 000 by 2015, with a further ministerial education mission to India in planning for 2014.

While the majority of Irish services and merchandise exports go to Europe and the US and we must continue to cultivate these markets, the Government is strongly focused on the further development of trading partnerships with other important emerging markets.

Following the launch of the Government’s Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy, ‘Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy, 2010 - 2015’ in September 2010, and based on State agency priorities, a list of 27 priority markets were identified. Local Market Teams were established in each of these, headed by the Ambassador and consisting of representatives of the Embassy and relevant state agencies. These market teams submit annual market plans as well as six-monthly reports of activity, which are reviewed by the Export Trade Council, which I chair.

The exporting sector is vital to the health of the Irish economy. Enterprise Ireland reported in its 2013 end of year statement that its client companies now, directly and indirectly, account for more than 300,000 jobs in the Irish economy (16% of the total workforce). The Ministerial-led Enterprise Ireland Trade Missions bringing client companies to key markets are strongly supported by my Department and the Embassy network.

Ireland’s exports were €182 billion in 2012, split almost evenly between goods and services, an increase of 5.5 percent on 2011. The growth in goods exports slowed to 0.7 percent on the previous year, but growth in services exports was strong at almost 11 percent. The tables annexed to this reply (using figures collated by Forfás) show the main destinations of Irish goods and services exports over the last five years. While full year figures for 2013 are not yet available, these are expected to show a small decline in exports largely caused by the effects of the pharmaceutical “patent cliff” and weakness in established markets.

Annex:

Ireland’s Goods Exports by Destination

Ireland’s Services Exports by Destination