Department of Foreign Affairs Has Key Role to Play in Increasing Exports

The Department of Foreign Affairs’ network of embassies and consulates throughout the world has a key role to play in the promotion of a wide range of exports mainly from the indigenous sector. This was the message delivered by Mr Liam Shanahan, President of the Irish Exporters Association, when he appeared recently at a meeting of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs.

The Committee is currently examining Ireland's trade promotion policy with a particular emphasis on the role of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in promoting trade. Mr Shanahan said that the Irish Exporters Association believes that the Department has a major role to play, but stressed that there has to be a real team effort which will include all of the State agencies. “Above all, the combined effort must be fully coordinated and must be market led,” said Mr Shanahan. He noted that the effort must be co-ordinated, managed and accountable as a single chain.

Mr . Shanahan also stated that Government led Trade Missions were of great benefit and importance in winning business overseas. He said that it was important in the light of all of the political controversy surrounding the issue that this message be made clear by the business community, and understood by the wider public.

Mr Shanahan told the Committee that the desired result of increasing exports was achievable, but, like all things in life, hard work was required. He stressed, however, that selling Ireland Inc. could not, will not be achieved sitting in Ireland. The work needs to be done in the marketplace and to do that work correctly that the ‘sales people’ from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Enterprise Ireland, Bord Biá, BIM, etc. had to be well trained. He suggested that all of the organisations involved should recruit from the best business schools in the world and internships should be initiated in order to hand on knowledge that had already been acquired by seasoned export sales people.

He said that although indigenous exports only accounted for some 12% of total exports, they accounted for some 50% of export related jobs. “In order to sustain these jobs and, in the medium to long-term, to increase indigenous exports with a resultant increase in employment, we must find out what the market wants, develop the goods and services identified and then sell them,” said Mr Shanahan. He added that the Department of Foreign Affairs with its network of offices can, indeed, provide needed market research and help to sell the products and services of indigenous Irish exporters. “Ambassadors, Counsellors, indeed, all DFA staff abroad must start to see themselves not just as diplomatic representatives, but also as an army of sales representatives selling and promoting Ireland and Irish goods and services abroad,” he added. Mr Shanahan ended with a caution by saying that the work of the DFA and State promotional agencies must be well co-ordinated to ensure that there is no duplication and no waste. “The combined effort must be managed and accountable as a single chain.”

ENDS

For further information contact: John Whelan

Irish Exporters Association

Telephone: 087 927 1243

Email: jfwhelan@irishexporters.ie