An Tánaiste launches €10m InterTradeIreland Cross-Border Business Programme

The rationale for co-ordinated Government intervention to improve the economic prospects of all the citizens of the island was clear, An Tánaiste Mary Coughlan said yesterday as she launched a €10m cross-border business programme for InterTradeIreland.

The new phase of the Acumen programme, which is also supported by Enterprise Ireland and Invest NI, aims to help 400 companies North and South over the next four years to expand into their respective cross-border markets and develop their export potential.

Noting that cross-border trade had increased from €2.6bn in 2002 to €3.1bn in 2007, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment said that the development of the all-island economy was a priority.

“I welcome the growth in cross-border trade and the Acumen programme is a good example of what North/South co-operation can achieve,” said Ms Coughlan during the launch event at Croke Park.

“I am committed to working with my counterparts in Northern Ireland to implement North/South initiatives where there is mutual economic benefit to be achieved. The development of the all-island economy is a priority for my Department.”

Ms Coughlan said she had no doubt that the significant financial funding package, which came to €14m when company contributions were included, would yield very positive benefits to companies North and South.

Over the past five years, Acumen had supported 300 companies in every county on the island – including her own of Donegal - creating almost 400 new jobs and new cross-border sales of €35m.

She added: “InterTradeIreland has a central role to play in assisting enterprises to grow their business by taking on opportunities that exist in the all-island market and, indeed, to enhance the competitiveness of those enterprises in seeking out other opportunities in an increasingly fast-paced globalised marketplace.

“Competitiveness and innovation are now the springboard for enterprise development in the modern knowledge economy and InterTradeIreland programmes are designed to deliver on those tenets.”

InterTradeIreland chief executive Liam Nellis said that in 2007 more than 450 firms had participated directly in the organisation’s business networks and trade and business development programme, while more than 1,800 had used the organisation’s information resources and facilities

“For many of these businesses, participation in our all-island programmes represented their introduction to formal innovation activity with third level institutes and exporting from their home jurisdiction,” he said.

Acumen programme director Willie Maxwell told the audience of client companies and high potential first time exporters that conditions for doing all-island business were currently better than they had been at any time in the past 40 years.

“The attractions of doing business in the North, a bite-sized market which is on the doorstep of Southern SMEs, are obvious,” he said. “Irish PLCs such as Kerry and Glanbia have huge market share there, while major retailers such as Dunnes and SuperValu have cracked the Northern market. Northern Ireland is also the perfect proving ground for wider export ambition.

“In these demanding business times, Acumen is here to help. If you are not doing business in Northern Ireland or are seriously underperforming in that market, then our programme offers interventions that are proven to work, with increased support level.”

More information on the Acumen programme from www.intertradeireland.com or   Willie Maxwell on 00353 1 8839 223/4.