From Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
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Pat Breen TD, Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, will today commence one of the largest trade missions to the Middle East region covering Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, accompanied by 33 Enterprise Ireland supported companies.
The five-day trade mission organised by Enterprise Ireland will be focused on enhancing the existing trade links with the region and promoting Ireland as a world class provider of goods and services across the Aviation, Digital Technologies, Fintech, Education, Engineering, Telecommunications and Life Sciences sectors.
7 Enterprise Ireland supported aviation clients are participating in the Dubai Airshow during the trade mission. The Dubai Airshow is one of the largest and most important aerospace events in the world, welcoming 1,200 exhibitors from 63 countries and almost 80,000 trade visitors. The UAE, and the region as a whole, is fast becoming a market of significant interest for Irish companies, particularly in the aviation and aerospace sector. The Irish aerospace and aviation sector is a key industry for Ireland, employing 42,000 people across 250 companies and contributing €4.1 billion to the Irish economy.
This trade mission signifies the importance of the Middle East region to Ireland which has experienced a year on year increase in exports from Irish companies. In total, Irish trade with the three countries being visited by Minister Breen has increased by 23 per cent for the period January to August 2019 compared to the same period last year.
Marking the start of the trade mission, Minister Pat Breen said:
"I am delighted to be in the Middle East leading such a diverse range of companies that demonstrate the strength of Irish expertise, goods and services. We value the strong relationships we have in the region and look forward to emphasising our “Irish Advantage” so that the exports between our countries can continue to grow.
"Ireland’s strength in the global aviation sector is a remarkable success story. The Dubai Airshow provides a spotlight to further showcase the very best of what we have to offer to the sector and to engage with global aviation leaders who shape the sector across this region.
"During the trade mission, I look forward to engaging with key decision makers to promote Ireland as a source of world-class products and services."
During the Trade Mission, Cubic Telecom will sign a contract with Etisalat, a multinational UAE headquartered mobile network operator (MNO) and one of the largest MNOs in the world, to launch a full local eUICC profile management solution for automotive connectivity within the UAE. Cubic Telecom are a global connectivity management software provider based in Dublin.
The agreement enables automatic download of a local Etisalat profile to every vehicle sold to customers resident within UAE and is provided via Cubic’s PACE global software platform. The agreement adds UAE to the global connected car footprint for leading automotive manufacturers.
Speaking on the Trade Mission, Stephen Creaner Executive Director, Enterprise Ireland said:
"This trade mission to Kuwait, Dubai and Bahrain is part of Enterprise Ireland’s market diversification strategy to expand the Irish export footprint and increase Irish company exports to €26 billion by 2020. Enterprise Ireland has specifically set a target to grow exports to the United Arab Emirates to €2 billion in 2020, from €1.4 billion in 2016.
"The 33 Enterprise Ireland supported companies taking part in this Trade Mission span a wide range of sectors including Aviation, Digital Technologies, Fintech, Education, Engineering, Telecommunications and Life Sciences. Across each of these sectors they see the Middle East as a key element of their current and future export diversification strategy and recognize the substantial opportunity that the region represents."
ENDS
For further information:
Louise Cunningham, Corporate Communications and Marketing, Enterprise Ireland, louise.cunningham@enterprise-ireland.com , 01-727 2973
Enterprise Ireland is the Irish State agency that works with Irish enterprises to help them start, grow, innovate and win export sales in global markets. Enterprise Ireland partners with entrepreneurs, Irish businesses, and the research and investment communities to develop Ireland’s international trade, innovation, leadership and competitiveness. In this way, we support sustainable economic growth and regional development, and help create and sustain employment in Ireland. www.enterprise-ireland.com