Bruton leads trade mission to China

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton kicked off his third visit to China this week in Beijing, leading a trade mission that will include 41 Irish firms trying to access the world's second biggest economy.

“We have identified key companies with technologies that have a good fit with Chinese needs and we’ve brought some of our brightest and best companies in these areas,” said Mr Bruton.

The mission to Beijing, Shanghai and Seoul will include more than 40 meetings and events, including 16 meetings with Asian companies and public bodies, 13 meetings with Chinese and Korean companies considering investing in Ireland, and six meetings with government ministers and agencies, as part of a strategy to build relations with the Chinese and Korean governments on economic issues.

Technology summits

The visit will include key-note speeches at two China Ireland technology summits in Beijing and Shanghai organised by Enterprise Ireland/IDA Ireland with Atlantic Bridge and West Summit Capital, and meetings with Chinese and Korean media.

China and Korea are home to some of the biggest companies in the world, many of whom are interested in Ireland as a gateway to Europe, Mr Bruton said. There are 241 Irish companies trading in China, 90 of whom have actually put boots on the ground, said the Minister.

Cementing relations

He said the visit of Xi Jinping to Ireland in 2012, when the president was still vice-premier, had been vital to cementing relations, as had the follow-up visit by Enda Kenny a month later.

“ We have seen a €100 million technology investment fund jointly with the Chinese which is creating a great opportunity for Irish technology companies to enter the Chinese market,” said Mr Bruton.

“We’ve also seen a number of IDA successes with companies like Huawei, Tencent, which took over RiotGames and is investing in Dublin with 255 jobs. We believe we can build on that base,” he added.

He pointed to the 23 per cent increase in Irish companies’ exports to China in 2013 as evidence of growing trade links.