URGENT ACTION must be taken to address critical competitiveness issues facing individual export sectors, the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) has said.

In a report published yesterday, the NCC, which is tasked with advising the Taoiseach on key competitiveness issues, sets out recommendations aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of the State’s main exporting sectors and exploiting the “significant growth opportunities” that exist.

Specifically, the report calls for the improvement of the clinical trials process here, which it says is key to growing the pharmaceutical and medical technologies sectors.

“In particular, we need to consolidate and streamline approval processes for new products and technologies,” the NCC advised.

The council also recommends that road access in the west of Ireland be upgraded, making it easier for the medical technologies sector to access international markets. Specialised courses for particular sectors such as ICT, financial services and environmental goods and services should be provided.

Access to finance was also identified as a challenge in sectors such as environmental goods and services. The NCC said continued Government support through Enterprise Ireland to develop funds and attract investors remains “vital” to ensure that funding is available to support new businesses.

Other recommendations in the report, titled Driving Export Growth: Statement on Sectoral Competitiveness, range from co-ordination of public spending on tourism-related investments across Government departments and agencies to the development of “green zones” conducive to the development of green enterprises.

A number of issues were found to affect several export sectors, such as the need for improvement in broadband networks and services, and reducing the cost of doing business.

Ireland’s export sector has proved resilient despite the global recession, and the NCC predicts it will be a key driver of Ireland’s return to sustainable economic growth.