A €10m cross-border business programme for InterTradeIreland was launched this week by Tánaiste Mary Coughlan. The new phase of the Acumen programme, which is also supported by Enterprise Ireland and Invest NI, aims to help 400 companies North and South over the next four years to expand into their respective cross-border markets and develop their export potential. Noting that cross-border trade had increased from €2.6 bn in 2002 to €3.1 bn in 2007, the Tánaiste said that the development of the all-island economy was a priority. ‘I welcome the growth in cross-border trade and the Acumen programme is a good example of what North/South co-operation can achieve,’ said the Tánaiste during the launch event at Croke Park. Over the past five years, Acumen had supported 300 companies in every county on the island – including her own of Donegal – creating almost 400 new jobs and new cross-border sales of €35m. She added: ‘InterTradeIreland has a central role to play in assisting enterprises to grow their business by taking on opportunities that exist in the all-island market and, indeed, to enhance the competitiveness of those enterprises in seeking out other opportunities in an increasingly fast-paced globalised marketplace. Acumen programme director Willie Maxwell told the audience of client companies and high potential first time exporters that conditions for doing all-island business were currently better than they had been at any time in the past 40 years. ‘The attractions of doing business in the North, a bite-sized market which is on the doorstep of Southern SMEs, are obvious,’ he said. ‘Irish PLCs such as Kerry and Glanbia have huge market share there, while major retailers such as Dunnes and SuperValu have cracked the Northern market. Northern Ireland is also the perfect proving ground for wider export ambition.’ More information on the Acumen programme from www.intertradeireland.com or Willie Maxwell on 00 353 1 8839 223/4.
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