Minister Bruton leads 5-day trade and investment mission to Australia accompanied by 32 Irish companies
Joint Enterprise Ireland/IDA mission includes more than 40 high-level meetings and events to target opportunities in financial services, ICT and healthcare
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD, today (Friday 29th August, 2014) departs on a 5-day, 3-city trade and investment mission to Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney, jointly organised by Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland.
L-R: Julie Sinnamon, CEO, Enterprise Ireland; Alan Phelan, CEO, Sourcedogg and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD
This is Minister Bruton's 22nd trade/investment mission since taking office 42 months ago. As part of its strategy to support increased exports and jobs, this Government has more than doubled the number of trade missions since taking office.
32 Irish companies from the financial services, e-learning, telecommunications and IT for Healthcare sectors are participating on the mission.
The 5-day mission includes over 40 high-level meetings and events including:
23 meetings and events aimed at supporting increased exports by Irish companies to Australia, by facilitating contacts and enhanced relationships with local companies, organised by Enterprise Ireland.
7 one-on-one meetings with senior executives of Australian companies considering making investments in Ireland or expanding operations already here, arranged by IDA Ireland – including meetings with fast-growing Australian companies ACS and iM3.
6 one-on-one interviews with major Australian media outlets – broadcast and print – as part of the Government's campaign to communicate the story of Ireland's economic recovery abroad, help facilitate increased investment here and raise awareness of Ireland as a source of world-class, innovative products and services.
5 political meetings and events, including one-on-one meetings with the Austalian Minister for Trade and Investment and the Minister for Employment. Minister Bruton will also attend Australian Federal Parliament Question Time.
Speaking before his departure, Minister Bruton said: "At the heart of our jobs plan is supporting an export-led recovery, and in the past three years we have put in place a range of measures to encourage more job-creation in Irish and multinational companies here. Central to this is Ministerial-led trade missions, which help to put our agencies and our businesses in front of decision-makers in overseas companies and Governments who can enable the job-creation in Ireland that we need. As well as new measures like increasing the numbers of Enterprise Ireland and IDA staff in overseas markets and new tax incentives to encourage job-creation here, we have more than doubled the number of Ministerial-led trade missions since taking office.
"The economic relationship between Ireland and Australia is stronger now than at any time in our history. It is a relationship based on delivering two-way trade of more than $2.8bn per annum. There are over 140 Enterprise Ireland client companies actively doing business in Australia as well as 35 Australian companies in Ireland employing over 1,600 people. I am confident that during the intensive programme of activities this week we can build on that strong relationship and support more trade and crucially more jobs in Ireland".
Julie Sinnamon, CEO, Enterprise Ireland, who is accompanying Minister Bruton on the trade mission added:
"Central to Enterprise Ireland's strategy is the determination to help our client companies grow their export sales in global markets. Australia is a key growth market for Irish companies – particularly high-tech firms such as those represented on this mission. The geography of the Australian market means that it is particularly open to technologies that help overcome geographic challenges such as e-learning, telecommunications and IT for Healthcare. This trade mission is about highlighting the unique and innovative solutions that Ireland can offer Australia, and building on the solid base of Irish indigenous export activity to this key strategic market – helping to sustain and grow jobs back in Ireland".
John Conlon, Head of Asia Pacific Operations at IDA Ireland, who will also be accompanying the Minister on the mission, said: "There are over 35 Australian companies in Ireland, employing over 1,600 people which includes leading names such as Resmed, Macquarie, Computershare and QBE. IDA Ireland is seeking to attract quality investments from globalising Australian companies looking to access the EMEA market."
"IDA Ireland targets sectors with the highest potential for delivery and fit with Ireland's value proposition, building relationships with the top and emerging players in the key sectors of Technology, Business and Financial Services and Life Sciences."
Press Office: DJEI: 01 631 2200
Australia is the world's 12th largest economy, with an estimated GDP of US$1.5 trillion.
The Australian economy avoided the worst impacts of the global financial crisis was well documented and the country recently recorded its 23rd consecutive year of economic growth.
Australia has proven to be one of the most resilient and stable economies in the world over the last two decades and is also ideally positioned to capitalise on growth in the wider Asia Pacific region. Enterprise Ireland client companies exported almost €300m of goods and services to Australia in 2013 - an increase of 15% on 2012 figures - making it the largest market in Asia Pacific for non-food exports.
As part of IDA Ireland Horizon 2020 strategy is to target winning 20% of new business from Growth Markets – which include Australia.
The key focus of Minister Bruton's visit for IDA is a series of one-to-one meetings with high level executives in existing and new Australian client companies. The companies are in a range of sectors including Financial Services, Business Services Consumer Products and Medical Devices. The Minister's visit will assist IDA in strengthening our relationships with key senior executives in these companies.
IDA Ireland has committed to a target in the Horizon 2020 strategy of winning 20% of new business from Growth Markets by 2014. Australia is one of the markets targeted to achieve this.
IDA has had a presence in Australia on a part time basis for over 25 years. This year, in response to increased success IDA has committed a full time resource to Australia.
As part of the Mission, IDA has invited IDA target clients, key influencers, investors and business advisors to selected Trade and Investment events in Sydney and Melbourne that Minister Bruton will address. This will allow the Minister the opportunity to have the widest possible engagement with target and existing clients in a more informal setting.
Minister Bruton will be meeting with selected national and business media in Australia with the opportunity to further raise Ireland and IDA's profile among key decision makers in Government and Business circles.
Enterprise Ireland's Access Australia Guide provides further information on doing business in Australia - visit http://www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/export-assistance/market-research-centre/asia-pacific-country-reports-.html
Arrive Melbourne
Sunday 31st August
1530-1700 Briefing/Review of Programme with Team Ireland, Australia
1730-1900 Informal meeting with participating Irish companies
Monday 1st September (Melbourne)
0720-0930 Breakfast Meeting: EI "Melbourne Advisory Panel"
0900-0930 Meeting with IDA target company
1130-1200 Media Interview: The Melbourne Age
Radio Interview: 3AW
1230-1400 Business lunch: hosted by ANZ Banking Group
1415-1515 Meeting with EI client company and customer
1530-1700 Seminar: "Irish Innovation in IT for Healthcare"
1800-2000 Networking event - Irish Australia Chamber of Commerce
Tuesday 2nd September (Melbourne)
0720-0930 Business breakfast: Opportunities across Australia's Telecoms Landscape – Market Briefing by Telstra
1200-1330 Business lunch and briefing opportunity: The Australian Economy; Current state of play & projected outlook
1400-1530 Business meeting: NZTE
1540 Transfer to Melbourne Airport for flight to Canberra
1750 Depart Melbourne
1855 Arrive Canberra
1930-2100 Business dinner and briefing: "Australia in The Asian Century"
Wednesday 3rd September (Canberra)
0800-0930 EI client breakfast and briefing opportunity
1015-1055 Meeting: Irish Parliamentary Friendship Group
1100-1130 Meeting: Senator Eric Abetz, Federal Minister for Employment; Leader of the Government in the Senate
1140-1155 Media Interview: Australian Financial Review
1205-1230 Media Interview: The Australian
1400-1430 Observe Australian Federal Parliament Question Time
1530-1600 Meeting: Hon. Andrew Robb AO, Minister for Trade & Investment
1605 Transfer to Canberra airport for flight to Sydney
1745 Arrive Sydney
1830-1845 Meeting: NSW - Irish Parliamentary Friendship Group
1830-1945 Networking event - Irish Diaspora in NSW
Thursday 4th September (Sydney)
0730-0900 Business breakfast, Seminar and Workshop: Digitizing Hospital Processes: Driving Quality and Efficiency – Seminar and Workshop
0915-0930 Meeting: EI client company and Australian customer
0945-1015 Business Seminar: Opportunities in Australia's Telecoms Sector
1130-1145 Radio Interview: ABC Radio – Drive Time segment
1200-1400 Business lunch: "Sydney Brains Trust" Advisory Panel
1430-1530 Meeting: IDA target company
1800-2000 Business event: "Diversity drives Innovation"
Friday 5th September (Sydney)
0730-0930 Breakfast Seminar: "Towards a Knowledge Economy"
Keynote Speaker: Federal Minister for Communications, the Hon. Malcolm Turnbull MP
0915 -0945 Meeting: IDA target company
1115-1145 Media Interview: Sky Business News
1200-1400 Business lunch: New Zealand Senior Executives
1730-1900 End of Mission client de-brief.
1930 Transfer to Sydney International Airport
2150 Depart Sydney for Ireland