Local companies Éire Composites Teo, Ri Na Mara, JFC, and EasyFix have been recognised as InterTradeIreland Business Ambassadors for Galway.
Ri Na Mara, which is based in An Spideal, produces a range of luxury seaweed based beauty products. Working with InterTradeIreland through its sales and marketing programme Acumen, the company has identified new business opportunities in Northern Ireland, raised its brand awareness in the marketplace, and increased cross-border sales by more than 10 per cent. The company has ambitious plans for growth and is due to launch a new organic product range later this year.
Also recognised as a Business Ambassador for Galway was family-owned business JFC based in Tuam. The company was originally established to supply specialist plastic products to the agriculture industry, but has since grown to employ 90 people locally with additional sites in Britain, Holland and Poland. JFC was recognised as an ambassador as a result of its commitment to exporting and innovation and now sells its products worldwide to customers in the construction, healthcare, recycling, chemical, catering and marine sectors.
Indreabhan-based Éire Composites Teo is an innovative design and manufacturing company that develops specialist lightweight, high performance materials for the aerospace, wind energy, marine, Formula One racing and automotive sectors. It employs 50 people locally and was supported by InterTradeIreland to undertake a number of successful innovation projects with leading research institutes and companies in Northern Ireland.
Ballinasloe based EasyFix manufactures and sells a specialist range of rubber based products for the livestock and equine industries. The company was supported by InterTradeIreland to target the market in Northern Ireland for its products and now predicts strong sales from the North and Britain in the coming years.
Speaking at the Business Ambassador event, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mr Richard Bruton, said: “Government does not create jobs, people and businesses do; and the role of government is to create an environment in which those businesses can prosper.
“I am determined to do everything I can to reduce costs, improve access to finance, and encourage innovation so that good businesses can expand and create the jobs that our economy and society so badly need. If there is one thing Ireland - North and South - does not lack it is enterprising, creative, hardworking people, and I look forward to working with them to discuss what Government and small business together can do to get people back to work.”
More than 65 companies from Ireland attended the event, including local TD Séan Kyne.
Since 2003, InterTradeIreland has helped more than 16,500 companies with cross-border information and services and supported some 2,000 SMEs through its trade and innovation programmes.
