Michael Appel
16 January 2008
There's still plenty of room for growth in trade and business between Ireland and South Africa through strategic partnerships, says Irish Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Employment Michael Martin.
Martin headed up a trade mission to South Africa this week, accompanied by about 50 Irish companies from a wide variety of sectors, including information and communication technology, construction, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.
Speaking in Johannesburg on Tuesday, Martin said bilateral trade between the two countries amounted to some €900-million, with raw materials imported by Ireland worth about €500-million.
While no new deals were signed between SA and Ireland during Prime Minister Bertie Ahern's visit this week, deals between South African and Irish companies are worth about €30 000-million, the minister said.
Martin said the Ireland Electricity Supply Board would be involved in an advisory capacity over the next few years to help South African state company Eskom improve its electricity supply.
Also accompanying the minister on his trip was Tourism Ireland CEO Paul O'Toole, who is anxious to boost tourism, and business tourism in particular, between the two countries.
Speaking to BuaNews, O'Toole said the South African market was quietly developing well for Ireland.
"We have already addressed members within the airline, tour operators, as well as travel media in order to have them push business tourism," he said.
O'Toole said about 30 000 South Africans were visiting Ireland each year, adding however, that that figure had probably increased by 30-40 percent in recent years.
Source: BuaNews
