Invest NI chief vows renewed export drive
MISSIONS to China to promote the hospitality industry, Marseille to sell cruise ship furnishings and India in support of the materials handling sector are some of the ways Northern Ireland business will sell itself abroad this year Invest NI chief executive Alastair Hamilton said yesterday.
Speaking as a visit to the Middle East drew to a close, Mr Hamilton said local firms will have greater opportunities than ever before to develop export business.
Mr Hamilton announced details of a major export drive by Invest NI to cover virtually every business sector, during the week-long mission to Saudi Arabia where a trade office has been opened in Jeddah.
The new office is already working with several Northern Ireland companies keen to develop business in the Kingdom especially the Jeddah area, the main commercial centre and largest seaport.
“Our Market Visits Programme for March 2012 – March 2013 is the most comprehensive that we’ve organised and will provide tremendous opportunities for Northern Ireland companies to explore those global markets that are continuing to grow and subsequently win profitable business,” he said.
“The new programme lists 70 events including trade missions and opportunities to take part in major industry exhibitions in almost every continent. Our aim in shaping such an extensive programme of events is to encourage more companies, especially first time exporters, than ever before to look abroad for new business, in the markets that are right for them.”
The programme was also an important response by the agency to the targets of 15 per cent growth in manufacturing exports by 2015 and 25,000 new jobs set in the draft Programme for Government.
Mr Hamilton said greater sales abroad would lead to more and better employment opportunities.
“Currently manufacturing exports beyond the British Isles are worth £5.1 billion and sales outside Northern Ireland including to Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland £12.4bn.”
Stating that the 15 per cent growth in exports was achievable, he said it was important in the current conditions to encourage as many firms as possible to play their part.
“We need to continually encourage established exporters to look to new markets and get many more businesses to widen their sales horizons and become exporters.
“I believe that companies in most sectors are increasingly recognising that they have to look further afield because opportunities in established markets such as Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, our strongest markets, as well as in other parts of Europe are not as prevalent and competition for orders is now tougher than ever before.
“While conditions in Europe are immensely challenging and likely to remain so over the next few years, we’ve identified major markets, such as India, Saudi Arabia, China, South Africa, Russia and South America, which are still achieving significant GDP growth. We are working with companies to exploit the opportunities these markets offer.”
On Monday it was confirmed that Dungannon firm Muldoon Transport Systems had landed a £1 million contract with a Saudi agri-food business for 19 lorry trailers.
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Tuesday 29 May 2012
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