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01/02/2006
NI businesses look to Cork for opportunities
Northern Ireland small businesses took flight earlier this week to the City of Cork to explore the market in the south west of Ireland.
The mission involving 30 businesses from the north was organised by MicroTrade, a joint initiative of Enterprise Northern Ireland, the County Enterprise Boards of the Republic of Ireland and InterTradeIreland, with the aim of helping small businesses develop trade links across the island of Ireland.
Minister for Trade and Commerce at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Michael Ahern, attended the event, and praised MicroTrade’s efforts in helping small businesses explore all-island markets.
He said: “I believe that today’s event is a first venture into the South West for many of the Northern Ireland businesses present, and I hope that the efforts of the various Enterprise Boards in County Cork have proven effective in allowing you to make a number of worthwhile contacts that you will build upon in coming weeks.
“Similarly, I hope that the Cork businesses here present have had the opportunity to ‘pick the brains’ of our visiting businesses and representatives of Enterprise Northern Ireland, and that a return trade mission will be possible in the not too distant future.”
Prior to the event MicroTrade worked with the four Enterprise Boards in Cork to line up meetings with suitable Cork-based companies for the Northern Ireland participants.
While in Cork, the participating businesses also enjoyed Speednetworking sessions – the business version of speed-dating – along with a dinner with representatives of key business organisations in Cork.
Seamus Walsh of Webrom TV in Dungannon remarked on the value of this ‘helping hand’. He said: "When you are approaching a new market, it can take an age simply to get to know the local market and find the people you need to be talking to. MicroTrade have really broken the ice for us in approaching the market in the south west. Clearly a few more trips will be necessary to really make things happen, but the ball is now rolling."
In April this year, MicroTrade will host its annual flagship event – the MicroTrade All-Island Networking Day at Citywest Conference Centre in County Dublin.
North/South Trading has been rising over the past ten years. The total amount traded in 2004, North to South and South to North, was £1.7 billion/ 2.5 billion euro.
A recent InterTradeIreland survey of business enterprises showed that one third of businesses on the island of Ireland have a North/South Trading or business development strategy.
(SP)
The mission involving 30 businesses from the north was organised by MicroTrade, a joint initiative of Enterprise Northern Ireland, the County Enterprise Boards of the Republic of Ireland and InterTradeIreland, with the aim of helping small businesses develop trade links across the island of Ireland.
Minister for Trade and Commerce at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Michael Ahern, attended the event, and praised MicroTrade’s efforts in helping small businesses explore all-island markets.
He said: “I believe that today’s event is a first venture into the South West for many of the Northern Ireland businesses present, and I hope that the efforts of the various Enterprise Boards in County Cork have proven effective in allowing you to make a number of worthwhile contacts that you will build upon in coming weeks.
“Similarly, I hope that the Cork businesses here present have had the opportunity to ‘pick the brains’ of our visiting businesses and representatives of Enterprise Northern Ireland, and that a return trade mission will be possible in the not too distant future.”
Prior to the event MicroTrade worked with the four Enterprise Boards in Cork to line up meetings with suitable Cork-based companies for the Northern Ireland participants.
While in Cork, the participating businesses also enjoyed Speednetworking sessions – the business version of speed-dating – along with a dinner with representatives of key business organisations in Cork.
Seamus Walsh of Webrom TV in Dungannon remarked on the value of this ‘helping hand’. He said: "When you are approaching a new market, it can take an age simply to get to know the local market and find the people you need to be talking to. MicroTrade have really broken the ice for us in approaching the market in the south west. Clearly a few more trips will be necessary to really make things happen, but the ball is now rolling."
In April this year, MicroTrade will host its annual flagship event – the MicroTrade All-Island Networking Day at Citywest Conference Centre in County Dublin.
North/South Trading has been rising over the past ten years. The total amount traded in 2004, North to South and South to North, was £1.7 billion/ 2.5 billion euro.
A recent InterTradeIreland survey of business enterprises showed that one third of businesses on the island of Ireland have a North/South Trading or business development strategy.
(SP)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A chilly start with a widespread frost and some freezing fog, any freezing fog slow to clear. Otherwise bright with sunny spells and coastal showers. Light winds. Maximum temperature 6 °C.Tonight:Coastal showers dying out with a widespread frost developing along with freezing fog, which could become extensive. Winds remaining light. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
