Irish firms must become more ambitious and improve their international sales and marketing, Minister for Foreign Affairs Micháel Martin told Irish business leaders in London today.
Mr Martin met the Irish International Business Network (IIBN) – an alliance of 2,000 Irish entrepreneurs in London, New York and Dublin - at the Irish Embassy this morning.
Later today, he will launch a separate body, the Global Irish Network – a grouping of major business leaders that has emerged from last year’s two-day gathering in Farmleigh House in the Phoenix Park hosted by the Government.
“The IIBN is a glowing example of successful Irish business networking with the objective of supporting Irish people at home and abroad. I am also reliably informed that its unwritten motto is ‘all things being equal, the Irishman gets the deal’,” Mr Martin said.
However, many Irish-based companies need to improve their performance if they are to grow their operations abroad, he added.
“Some of the people who advise our companies say that they lack ambition. That is interesting feedback that we have received in the US," he said. "Secondly, their marketing and sales is particularly lacking. People don’t have a strong sense of what will take us on a sustained basis to develop markets. It isn’t just locating one person abroad, or making occasional trips abroad. It takes a far more sustained effort.”
Two representatives of the IIBN - Conor Foley and Andy Rogers - are to become members of the Global Irish Network, which will include over 300 key influencers, such as former British Petroleum chairman, Peter Sutherland.
“Those invited to participate are all individuals who share a strong connection to Ireland and a record of high achievement in international business or culture or who have strong connections with the wider Irish diaspora,Mr Martin said.
“I have been deeply heartened by the response to my letter of invitation. To date, almost 300 from 37 countries have agreed to participate, including some forty individuals based in Britain."