2007
News Release
Northern Ireland Exporters Association Launched in Belfast –
Exporters, North and South, Working Together for their Mutual Benefit
The Northern Ireland Exporters Association was launched today (Tuesday, 11 September, 2007) in Belfast. The foundation of the Association in Northern Ireland is based on the growing recognition that all sectors – public and private – from both parts of this island can work together at a pragmatic level to add value which will benefit everyone living and working in Ireland.
According to Mr Joe Lynch, President of the Irish Exporters Association, the foundation of the Northern Ireland Exporters Association brings together all companies trading internationally from the island of Ireland. “The coming together of exporting companies, large and small, will facilitate the sharing of values, expertise and contacts to everyone’s benefit,” said Mr Lynch. He noted that the combined strength of exporters from the entire island of Ireland will also go some way in influencing the strategic priorities of governments – North and South – with the primary objective of ensuring a competitive base from which to trade.
In launching the Northern Ireland Exporters Association Mr Lynch announced that Mr Robert Hamilton, a former chairman of the Institute of Export in Northern Ireland, will be the first director of the Northern Ireland Exporters Association. “Mr Hamilton will liaise with his counterparts in the South to provide to exporters in Northern Ireland the same range of services currently available on the other side of the border.”
Mr Lynch stressed that globally the forces of economic and social change are more profound than at anytime since the industrial revolution. “Businesses, large and small, are competing in new markets internationally providing an ever increasing range of products and services. In this new highly competitive environment it makes sense to take full advantage of the possibilities and new business opportunities that an all island economy presents,” said Mr Lynch.
He added that on an island-wide basis that there are a number of issues that need to be tackled as a matter of urgency. They are:
Ø Currency exposure along the North –South fault line and the potential for a euro-zone in the region;
Ø Taxation co-ordination for treatment of capital and corporation tax, allowances VAT , duties and liabilities
Ø Market access through liberalisation of state contracts in a pooled all island market, accelerating the scale of SME cross border initiatives, information and agency support co-ordination
Ø Infrastructure link up to ensure a seamless flow of goods and services internationally from the whole island.
Ø Strategies to address export industry skills and labour shortages on an all island basis.
“These are issues that must be tackled for the benefit of all companies in both parts of the island if exporting companies want to be remain competitive in an increasingly competitive global market,” said Mr Lynch.
He said that the people on this island, north and south, have already seen some of the advantages that an all island approach can have. He instanced the way that the foot and mouth danger was dealt with and efficiencies realised with electricity inter- connections. “I am convinced that industry-driven collaborations across the island will ensure more benefits for businesses thus ensuring that Irish companies, North and South, will be able to compete more efficiently and effectively in international markets,” he added.
At the launch of the Northern Ireland Exporters Association a presentation was made to Sir George Quigley for his unstinting efforts in promoting the concept of an island of Ireland economy that would function as a practical economic force to benefit everyone on this island. In presenting the award, Mr Lynch praised Sir George Quigley for calling for this pragmatic cooperation long before it was profitable or politically correct. According to Mr Lynch, Sir George Quigley was not just content to take his message to the business community on both sides of the border, but he also took every opportunity to ensure that politicians both north and south fully understood the trade potential and its importance as a peace dividend. “Sir George has been a great friend and diligent worker for the Irish Exporters Association having guided the Association’s Institute of International Trade as President and as Chairman of the adjudicating board for the Export Industry Awards,” added Mr Lynch.
Memberships in the Northern Ireland Exporters Association are now open to all exporting companies, large or small. Full details of the range of services available to exporters in Northern Ireland can be obtained by contacting:
Mr Robert Hamilton,
Director of the Northern Ireland Exporters Association,
13 Inglewood Park,
Bangor, Co. Down
BT20 3EY
Telephone: +44 (0)2891 461 231
ENDS
For further information contact:
Mr John F. Whelan
Chief Executive
Irish Exporters Association
28 Merrion Square
Dublin 2
Telephone: +353 1 661 2182
Fax: +353 1 661 2315
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