Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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349. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether Ireland can improve its trade with the various African countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25989/17]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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While Irish economic activity with countries in Africa remains relatively low as a proportion of our overall global economic activity, the potential for enhancing the trade relationship is strong. GDP growth in Africa has remained resilient, with the African Development Bank estimating growth of 4.7% in 2017. Medium-term prospects for economic development on the continent are also positive.

Our trade promotion activities in Africa are guided by the Department’s Africa Strategy, launched in 2011. Ireland Connected, the trade and investment strategy published in March of this year, mandates the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and other relevant Departments and agencies to ‘deliver focused events and activities to support a deepened economic engagement with Africa, building on the approach identified in the Africa Strategy’.

Ireland has 11 Embassies in Africa, each of which includes trade promotion as a core element of its role. The Embassies provide support and advice to Irish companies seeking to explore economic opportunities available in their countries of accreditation, and promote Ireland to potential investors as an attractive location in which to do business. Working with local Irish business groups, the Embassies in South Africa and Kenya have also produced accessible guides to doing business in Africa.

A range of initiatives have also been undertaken by the Department in Ireland, to complement the work of the Embassies, and to increase awareness of the opportunities available to Irish companies in Africa. These include the Africa Ireland Economic Forum, which brings together business and policy makers from Ireland and Africa to discuss opportunities for enhanced trade and investment, and the Winning Business in Africa initiative, which highlights tendering opportunities for Irish companies under the European Development Fund. Last year, the local Irish chapter of the Business Ireland Africa network was launched, with the support of the Department.

The Department will continue to work with all relevant state agencies, in line with the Team Ireland approach of the Ireland Connected strategy, as well as with partners in the private sector, to support and enhance Ireland’s economic and trade links with Africa.