Published on 

Busy week for trade missions

It's been a busy week and, indeed, a busy month for trade missions with a number of visits taking place to countries including UK, Vietnam, North Africa, China, Japan, India, and the Middle East. 

These trade missions are part of ongoing efforts to raise Ireland’s profile internationally,and also forms part of Enterprise Ireland’s broad drive to increase the export market penetration and diversification of Irish companies post Brexit.

We've highlights of three trade missions underway this week to the Middle East, India, China and Japan.

3 day trade mission to Middle East results in significant contracts

Significant contracts and business partnership agreements, as well as dozens of leads and high-level business contacts for Irish companies are among the initial results of this week’s trade mission to the Middle East. 37 Irish companies joined Enterprise Ireland and Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan on the three-day trade mission to Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The Irish companies span a number of key sectors including International Education, Lifesciences, Digital Media, ICT and Telecommunications, Financial Services, Aviation, Agri-technology and Business Services.

TRADE_Flanagan_

Contracts and business partnership agreements announced include:

  • iMOBMEDIA (Dublin), the Irish mobile media marketing technology company, signed a strategic partner agreement with Dubai-based Contec Technologies, to capitalise on vibrant market opportunities in GCC, where demand for enhancing customer experience mobile offerings is higher than the US and Europe.
  • Accuris Networks signed a contract with UAE-based Emirates Data Clearing House (EDCH), the largest data clearing and financial settlement services provider in the region.
  • Aubren (Portlaoise) announced a distribution agreement with Al-Babtain Power & Telecommunication for the distribution of Aubren DAQS range of innovative IT cooling solutions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
  • Tango Telecom, the leading global provider of data monetisation solutions for evolving mobile networks, announced the expansion of its regional operations to meet growing demand.
  • Nutritics (Dublin), the Irish provider of nutrition analysis software, announced a number of new partnerships with leading Middle East organisations including Emirates Leisure Retail, Dubai Police, Health Factory and Slices Pizza, who are utilising their market leading software to optimise their nutrition analysis requirements.
  • Ireland’s National Ambulance Service signed an MOU with Dubai’s Higher Colleges of Technology to explore the provision of paramedic training incorporating a bachelor degree in paramedic science for Emirati students.
  • iheed, the Dublin-headquartered next-generation medical education provider, opened its first Middle East office in Dubai to further support its growing long-term partnerships with health ministries and medical specialty boards across the region.
  • LSM Engineering (Portlaoise) announced details of a recent contract to supply commercial waste equipment to their long-standing customer, Almarai.

Exports of Enterprise Ireland backed companies to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states increased by 12% in 2015 to over €507m with further strong gains projected this year.

Five-day trade mission to India to develop links for Irish exporters

TRADE_Breen_India_filmstrip

13 companies this week are accompanying Minister for Employment and Small Business, Pat Breen on a five-day trade mission to further develop trade, political, economic & commercial links between Ireland and India. Irish companies from the aviation, financial services, pharmaceuticals and health, ICT and education sectors are participating in the mission which takes in three cities - Mumbai, Bengaluru and New Delhi.

The Enterprise Ireland led mission will promote Ireland as a source of innovative technology to support increased exports by Irish companies to India and promote foreign direct investment into Ireland by Indian companies. It is part of the intensified programme of Ministerial-led missions and events to support Irish exporters to diversify into new markets in response to the challenges posed by Brexit.

Immediate results from the trade mission include:

  • Dublin company Shimmer announced details of a joint venture with Indian company Essen Technologies in a deal worth €3.5m and creating 15 new jobs over 3 years. The venture will see Shimmer’s award winning sensor platform incorporated in Essen’s wearable Electro Cardiogram monitor Heartwear® product.
  • Shaw Academy and Flipkart, India’s largest e-commerce marketplace, signed a partnership to enable online certified courses in photography. Shaw Academy is an Irish company which has grown rapidly since its foundation 4 years ago and is now the world’s largest live online educator. It is has an office in Banaglore as well as the UK and the US.
  • Irish video communication company Vu2Vu signed a partnership with Indian company LAMHAS Satellite Services Ltd.

Meeting companies in China and Japan considering investing in Ireland

TRADE_MitchellOConnor_China_filmstrip

36 Irish companies this week visit Shenzhen, Beijing and Tokyo in China and Japan as part of a trade and investment mission led by IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, joined by Minister for Jobs Mary Mitchell O'Connor. 

The visit includes a series of meetings with Chinese and Japanese companies – from a range of different sectors – who are considering investing in Ireland. Minister Mitchell O’Connor will meet with a number of different businesses to support increased exports by Irish companies to both countries. She will also hold high-level discussions with counterparts in both the Chinese and Japanese Governments.

Significant leads for several Irish companies were created and progressed during the mission to China, including the announcement of a number of strategic partnerships. A number of Irish companies also announced new business in Japan, including C&F Green Energy in Galway, Vitalograph in Co. Clare, CAE Parc Aviation and Clinical Trial Endpoint in Dublin.

China and Japan are key growth markets for Enterprise Ireland supported companies.  Exports to the Asia-Pacific region increased by 11 per cent to €1.59 billion. This five day mission will help participating companies, to grow market share even further.  Enterprise Ireland trade missions like this one, help Irish companies with global ambition to gain traction in international markets, resulting in job creation and maintenance in Ireland,” she continued.  

For more information

Thinking about exporting? Check out Enterprise Ireland's website for more information.