Trade is the cornerstone of the island economy - external trade that integrates the island into the global economy and internal trade that links the two jurisdictions. Our continuing ability to sell overseas determines our shared standard of living. Foreign Direct Investment has provided a huge productivity boost to industry through skills and technology transfer, establishing strong companies that can compete internationally. Together these two processes will continue to shape our development path over the course of the research agenda. It is essential that we understand the current position in terms of the location implications of investment and how companies connect on and off the island.

For further information contact the Policy Research Team on policy@intertradeireland.com.

Current Work Programme:

• An Investigation into North/South Trade Statistics.(link to report)  This study will update the exercise completed in 2003 to further develop our understanding of cross-border trade flows.
• Gravity Model approach to estimating the expected volume of North/South trade. The aim of the study is to identify and quantify the expected volume of North/South trade in light of international experience of bilateral trade.  The policy rationale for this project is to identify sectors and products in which cross-border trade is relatively low, establishing the reasons for the low levels, and making recommendations where appropriate for raising the level of trade.

Recently Completed Projects

• All-Island Freight Transport Study The purpose of the study was to provide policy makers with an understanding of how freight moves on and off the island.  In particular the study will set out the opportunities, constraints and key issues for freight on the island of Ireland.

Trade and investment Publications

• All-island Freight Transport Study (May 2008)
• Direct Shipping to North America (February 2007)
• North/South Trade: A Statistical Ground-Clearing Exercise (August 2003)

Useful Resources

• Trade Statistics website
• Go Source Website