Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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100. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the supports for Irish businesses seeking to establish export links with Syria; and the supports offered to Irish businesses seeking to establish export links with Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. [30357/18]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Enterprise Ireland (EI) is actively working with companies with global ambition to internationalise, and in doing so, diversify their global footprint. This is critical for promoting economic resilience and long-term business growth.

EI supports Irish companies that export to the Gulf States through its office network in Dubai and Abu Dhabi (UAE), Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) and Doha (Qatar). In addition, EI employ Pathfinders in other Gulf States where it has no physical presence. EI assist suitable clients to avail of opportunities in Gulf States by working with each client one-on-one; arranging trade missions, company market visits, and in-country networking events; and by providing information and trade mission supports, as well as information and Gulf State related networking events in Ireland. EI also brings corporate buyers from the Gulf States to Ireland annually, to meet Irish producers.

Over the past 12 months, EI has organised trade missions and networking events with the participation of Irish government ministers in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar, with further events scheduled in 2018. In addition to its own export activities, Enterprise Ireland cooperates closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Embassy network, Bord Bia, Tourism Ireland, IDA and the Department of Justice as part of Team Ireland to deepen and widen Irish trade links with the Middle East and the Gulf region.

EI also ran an international trade event to the annual 'Arab Health' Exhibition in Dubai in January of this year, which was led by the Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Jim Daly T.D.  Arab Health is the largest healthcare exhibition and conference in the Middle East and North Africa region. The trade visit focused on maximising business opportunities for the 20 EI clients exhibiting and participating. The Gulf Food Manufacturing Exhibition in Dubai will take place later this year, where Enterprise Ireland will support exhibiting clients. 

Currently, EI’s Middle East and North Africa office network does not actively support Irish companies seeking to do business directly with Syria, due to the ongoing security situation. Any future change in EI trade promotion activities on behalf of Irish companies in Syria will be primarily dependent on the security situation in Syria. However, Enterprise Ireland will keep the situation under continuous review.