Joint Communiqué - Trade and Business Development Sectoral Format

1. The eighth North South Ministerial Council meeting in Trade and Business Development sectoral format was held in Enniskillen on Thursday 29 May 2008.   

2. The Executive was represented by Nigel Dodds, MP, MLA, Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and Michelle Gildernew, MP, MLA, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. The Irish Government was represented by Micheál Martin TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Jimmy Devins TD, Minister of State at the Departments of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Education and Science. Minister Dodds chaired the meeting.

Progress Report

3. Ministers welcomed the appointment of the new Board of InterTradeIreland, including the Chair, Dr. David Dobbin.  Dr David Dobbin, and the Chief Executive, Mr Liam Nellis, presented a progress report on InterTradeIreland’s work including:

• the recent launch of the Entrepreneurship Network & Masterclass Programme;
• in the area of Design - InterTradeIreland is scoping the potential for co-operative  initiatives that will deliver competitiveness benefits;
• co-operation with other agencies and the private sector to explore the potential for initiatives on Environmental goods and services;
• work with Enterprise Ireland and Invest Northern Ireland to identify suitable projects for submission under the EU’s 7th Framework Programme for Research;
• the recent publication of  a  report, Mapping Research & Technological Development Centres on the island of Ireland;
• exploring  new opportunities for the aerospace sector.

4. Ministers welcomed InterTradeIreland’s creation of 39 North/South Business Networks and the provision of information, advice and services to more than 14,500 companies, the participation of more than 1300 companies directly on InterTradeIreland’s programmes, resulting in the generation of £134million/c€171million worth of trade and business development value, with an additional forecast of £260million/c€331million to be reported from ongoing programmes. The Council noted the increase in Cross-Border Trade of 19.6% between 2003 and 2006. Recent figures show that cross-border trade has increased to €3.1billion in 2007.

The Council noted InterTradeIreland’s Annual Review of Activities and Annual Report 2006 prior to their being placed before the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Oireachtas.

5.The Council approved InterTradeIreland’s Corporate Plan and noted its two core strategic goals:

• to generate Business Value, by enhancing company competitiveness and capability through co-operative North/South initiatives;
• to improve the Competitive Environment, for mutual benefit, through co-operative policy research, reports and networks.

The Council supported the priority InterTradeIreland will give to Science, Technology and Innovation in its Corporate Plan; and noted the targets identified in the 2008 Business Plan:-

• £47million/c€69million total value of reported trade and business development activity generated by InterTradeIreland’s North/South business networks and by firms engaged in InterTradeIreland’s projects;
• 400 firms actively involved in developing the competitiveness of their businesses through the utilisation of InterTradeIreland’s resources offered through its co-operative North/South initiatives;
• 2000 firms engaged in developing their business capabilities through the utilisation of InterTradeIreland’s information and knowledge services;
• 25 North/South co-operative business and economic networks.

Next Meeting

6. The Council agreed that its next meeting in Trade and Business Development sectoral format would take place in September/October 2008.

Joint Secretariat

May 2008