An Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Leo Varadkar, this week launched Enterprise Ireland’s International Markets Week (IMW ) under the theme Global Recovery – Irish Opportunity.
The five-day event provides Irish exporters with the opportunity to virtually meet with the Agency’s international market advisors to accelerate their internationalisation strategies in global markets, critical for an export-led recovery. This year, International Markets Week will see more than 700 companies meet with 140 market advisors from 40 overseas offices in more than 1,600 individual meetings.
Ahead of the event, Enterprise Ireland surveyed the 700+ companies set to participate in IMW 2021. The results of the survey detailed the strong performance of Irish exporters thus far in 2021 despite the challenges of our new trading relationship with the UK and the Covid-19 pandemic.
A total of 56 percent of businesses indicated that they have seen an increase in exports in 2021 compared to 2020 with only 11 percent reporting a decrease. The key growth markets identified by client companies are North America, Europe and the UK.
The survey results also revealed the priority that exporting businesses give to the important digitalisation and sustainability agendas with 80 percent of businesses reporting that digitalisation was a priority over the next 12 months and 63 percent saying that advancing their sustainability agenda and adapting to climate change was a priority.
"The past 18 months have been incredibly difficult for businesses and while we are not fully there yet, there are many reasons to be hopeful. Our priority throughout has been to save as many jobs as possible and to help struggling businesses stay afloat, so that when the recovery came, businesses could bounce back quickly.
"While Brexit and Covid have presented unimaginable challenges, they have also presented opportunities for Irish businesses, from the move to online, which took place over a matter of days due to the pandemic to diversification into new markets. These changes, although no one would have chosen the way in which they came about, have made Irish enterprises more resilient and ready for the future. International Markets Week is an excellent opportunity for Irish businesses as we look forward to brighter days ahead," the Tanaiste asserted.
