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With a clear focus on diversifying Irish exports, Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys TD, leads 11 Enterprise Ireland client companies on an Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland trade and investment mission to New Zealand today. The trade mission is focused on increasing Irish exports to markets outside of the UK to 50 per cent by 2020 and attracting investment from New Zealand companies to Ireland.
New Zealand is a fast-growing market providing excellent opportunities for Irish companies to diversify their exports and become strategic gateways to enter the wider Asia Pacific region.
The seven-day trade and investment mission, covering Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Chrsitchurch will see the Minister attend Fieldays as the first Irish Minister to do so, celebrating 13 years of Irish Government support of the event through Enterprise Ireland, who have a local presence in New Zealand.
Fieldays is the largest Agri event in the Southern Hemisphere and will be attended by over 130,000 attendees from the agricultural industry. Enterprise Ireland are proud to once again be exhibiting the best of Irish agribusiness, with this year’s Ireland stand exhibiting a broad range of agricultural companies, demonstrating a range in capability including slurry spreaders, feeder wagons, dairy parlour equipment and grass toppers.
The Minister will meet a number of New Zealand Ministers during her visit including the Minister for Trade and Export Growth, the Hon David Parker and Minister for Agriculture, the Hon Damien O’Connor. The Minister will also meet with a number of IDA Ireland existing and target companies during the mission from the Technology, Agri-tech and Medical technology sectors. The Enterprise Ireland client companies participating in this Trade Mission include top Irish agribusiness innovators such as Abbey Machinery, Combilift, Keenan, Dairymaster, Malone Machinery, Major Equipment, ProDig and HiSpec, who will be accompanied by the CEO of Enterprise Ireland Julie Sinnamon and James Maloney, Senior Regional Development Executive, Enterprise Ireland.
Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys TD, said:
"Market diversification has never been more important than it is now with Brexit on the horizon. Ireland and New Zealand have a long and very positive trade history, particularly in the agribusiness sector, and the government is determined to build on that. We have similar agricultural markets with a common focus and challenges, so I am delighted to lead this Trade and Investment Mission comprising 11 cutting-edge Irish agribusinesses. The programme will focus on both supporting these companies to expand exports and attracting FDI to Ireland.
"My aim over the coming days is to build awareness and promote the ‘Irish advantage’ of the participating companies through their innovation and capability in furthering our global ambition.
"I look forward to engaging with key decision makers at the highest levels in Government and Industry to promote Ireland as both a source of world-class products and services and as a world-leading destination for FDI."
Julie Sinnamon, Chief Executive Officer, Enterprise Ireland said:
"As a very important market within the region, we recently invested in an additional presence on the ground in New Zealand and we are delighted to have the Minister visit to support the great and growing trade between our countries. Expanding the Irish export footprint is a key priority for Enterprise Ireland and we are working closely with Irish industry to pursue realisable opportunities to support greater market diversification throughout the Asia Pacific region."
Eileen Sharpe, Head of Growth Markets, IDA Ireland who will accompany Minister Humphreys to her meetings with IDA Ireland target and existing client companies said:
"Asia Pacific is a priority region for IDA Ireland. Companies from the APAC region are attracted to Ireland as an ideal location from which they can expand into the European market and grow their European business. Ireland is an integral part of the European Union and provides a stable, competitive and business friendly environment for global companies to access the single European market. There are approximately 300 companies from Asia Pacific with operations in Ireland employing over 25,000 people. This visit to New Zealand strengthens our relationships with new clients in order to generate new investments for Ireland, particularly post Brexit, and to deepen relationships with existing client companies."
ENDS
For further information: Therese Cullen, Senior Executive Corporate Communications and Marketing, Enterprise Ireland 01-7272770 | therese.cullen@enterprise-ireland.com
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