'Strong exports a huge opportunity' for Irish firms, says English

Fine Gael Meath West TD, Damien English, has welcomed the latest export figures, which show there was an annual increase of nine per cent in November, when compared with the same month in 2010. Deputy English added that the stellar performance of our export sector provides huge opportunities for Irish businesses to increase their presence overseas. "Ireland has carved out a reputation as a strong export economy; we are producing high value products, we've become more competitive, and we are in an ideal position to capitalise on changing trends within the global marketplace," he said. "Our exports for November were the second highest on record, with our trade surplus increasing by 16 per cent to €4.3 billion, its highest level ever. Furthermore, figures produced by Eurostat last week show that Ireland had the second highest trade surplus in the EU between January and October 2010, surpassed only by Germany. This is a remarkable achievement, given the turmoil we have gone through over the last year," he added. The Navan TD said a number of key sectors were showing very encouraging results, with food up by 14 per cent and dairy products up by a massive 28 per cent. Organic chemicals and medical products were also significantly up. "What's more, exports to the key BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) were up across the board in October, compared to the same figures for October 2010," he said. "Our strong export performance provides a massive opportunity for businesses the length and breadth of this country. We are constantly developing new markets, and indigenous firms need to explore their potential to capitalise on opportunities overseas. "As chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education, I understand the importance of a resilient export performance for economic recovery. A number of measures implemented in the budget make it easier for Irish companies to access credit, engage in research and development and expand their business abroad," he added. He claimed the government's Action Plan for Jobs, which is due to be published in the coming weeks, will implement a further set of reforms to help build on Irish exports to ensure they can continue to drive jobs growth.