Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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171. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which she can envisage opportunities in international markets for goods and services throughout the island of Ireland with a view to maximisation of impact on world markets in view of the likely challenges in the aftermath of Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6357/18]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The companies that will be affected by Brexit are economy wide, all sizes of business and across all sectors and regions. Traditional sectors with low margins, which provide large scale employment throughout the regions, are particularly vulnerable. To mitigate these vulnerabilities, the Enterprise Ireland strategy 2017-20 “Build Scale-Expand Reach”looks to increase the reach of its client company exports, with two-thirds of exports going beyond the UK.

This strategy takes account of Brexit and other global challenges that might emerge. Sustaining and growing jobs and diversifying the export base is a challenge when aligned with the key objective of reducing the overall dependence on the UK market as a percentage of overall exports. Therefore, my Department has allocated additional funding in both 2017 and 2018 to enable EI achieve its objectives.

To broaden the export footprint across the globe, the EI Strategy focuses on:

- Training and supports to enhance management capability, leadership and productivity,

- Marketing/sales skills,

- Innovation and R&D,

- Access to funding to help companies to build market share and create new market opportunities.

Extra staff has been placed in EI’s overseas offices with sectoral knowledge and expertise such as in engineering, food, life sciences and construction. This will drive export growth to other international markets where there are known opportunities and reduce reliance on the UK.

2017 export results are not yet available. 2016 saw a steady increase in EI client exports globally and sales grew across most territories with the USA and Canada increasing fastest by 19% to €3.7bn, Latin America up 17% to €.23bn, followed by exports to the Asia Pacific region, up 16% to €1.8bn. The Government will continue to support Enterprise Ireland to drive this growth across international markets.

There is now a major focus on directing resources and expertise to the Eurozone markets where EI sees opportunities, targeting a 50% increase in exports by 2020. A new ‘Irish Advantage’ communications campaign is targeting Eurozone buyers to buy Irish innovation in key Brexit impacted sectors.

There are significant opportunities in various international markets for quality Irish goods and services. The future relative importance and forecasted growth rates of China, India, Asean countries, the Gulf, Latin America and Africa combined with the scale of these markets means we will support Irish companies to continue to work to build exports in these markets. In recent weeks, EI launched its new Market Discovery Fund to help more Irish companies accelerate their market diversification efforts.