Minister Deenihan returns from Enterprise Ireland Trade Mission to Australia
Minister for Diaspora Affairs, Jimmy Deenihan, T.D., today returned from leading 18 Irish companies in a major drive to increase Irish exports to Australia.
The four-day trade mission, organised by Enterprise Ireland in close cooperation with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Embassy of Ireland in Canberra, focussed on the Construction and Engineering sectors in Brisbane and Perth.
The Irish companies participating in the trade mission came from the construction, engineering and software and services sectors, where there are significant opportunities in Australia and strong growth potential for increasing exports and sustaining and creating jobs at home.
The visit comes at a good time for Irish companies seeking new opportunities in Australia. Enterprise Ireland client companies are now exporting goods and services worth almost €300 million annually to the Australian market, which is the largest in the Asia Pacific region and the ninth largest market for Enterprise Ireland client companies.
Speaking during the trade mission Minister Deenihan said:
"My visit to Australia, leading the Enterprise Ireland trade mission to Perth and Brisbane, provided an excellent opportunity to raise the profile of leading and innovative exporting Irish construction and engineering companies. Overall, the visit showed how the Government, through the work of Enterprise Ireland, in close co-operation with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, through the Embassy network, is fully supporting the efforts of our companies to win business overseas.
“My meetings with target companies for Irish exporters and participation in other networking opportunities further enhanced the commercial connections to deliver on the potential of Australia as a market place for Irish goods and services”.
Alan Dixon, Director Asia Pacific, with Enterprise Ireland, who accompanied Minister Deenihan on the trade mission, commented:
“In Australia our objective is to drive continued growth in Irish exports and build on the existing strong trade links that exist between Ireland and Australia. During this Trade Mission discussion commenced on contracts up to a value of €3 million with a number of companies expected to establish a presence in Australia during the first half of 2015.
“The ultimate objective of all Enterprise Ireland trade missions is to help our client companies grow their export sales and create jobs in Ireland”.
Minister Deenihan’s schedule included a series of meetings with Irish companies and their partners and customers; high level meetings with key industry players and officials and a series of networking events to promote Irish companies. Underlining the importance Ireland places on Australia as a trade destination, Minister Deenihan officially opened Enterprise Ireland’s new office in Perth on Monday.
The trade mission was part of a 10-day visit to Australia by the Minister which included visits to Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth. In each city the Minister met with members of the Irish community and announced funding of almost €415,000 to organisations across Australia this year to provide welfare services and support to Irish emigrants.