41 Irish companies explore business opportunities

Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Mr. Simon Coveney, has led the largest-ever Irish trade mission to Ghana, involving about 41 Irish companies, to explore business opportunities and deepen bilateral relations within the sub-region.

The delegation was comprised of 17 representative companies from the Pharmaceutical, Life Sciences, Medical Devices, Aviation, Construction, Oil & Gas, Education services, Food, Software, Financial Services and Telecommunications sectors. 

Last year, Irish bilateral merchandise trade with Ghana was worth €38.7million, with exports of €36.3million.

The trade mission spearheaded by Enterprise Ireland was aimed at growing export sales by 60% to €600million by 2018. It was also targetted at increasing the profile of Ireland’s business among Ghana and Nigeria while developing trade and business opportunities across a broad range of goods and services, which will play a key part in reaching this target.

At a media briefing in Accra, Mr. Coveney said the idea of the mission was not simply to sell but also build on the existing foothold in the West African sub-region.

 “I am very pleased to be here in Ghana, a country which is now firmly established as one of our key trading partners. It has particularly grown in significance over recent years, such that it is now one of our primary non-EU export destinations. The next two days here will be about exploring further opportunities for cooperation between Ghana and Ireland across a range of sectors from agro-food to energy to education,” Minister Coveney stated.

Ghana is a significant market for Irish meat, with exports of €8million of Irish beef last year and €2million of Irish poultry. This makes Ghana one of the leading beef export destinations outside the EU after the US, Hong Kong and the Philippines.

“Our visit to Ghana is a very important step in increasing the bilateral relationship between the two countries. Ireland currently exports 50 million euros of agricultural produce and dairy products into Ghana.”

Mr. Coveney observed that Ghana presents an opportunity because of the stable economy, high standard of education and the population, making it an attractive market for transfer of technology know-how in the field of finance and agriculture.   

    

He said the Irish government is committed to building a stronger and more vibrant relationship with West Africa, initially focusing on Nigeria and Ghana.

“I have seen the relationship between Ireland and Nigeria and Ghana go from strength to strength,” adding that the relationship continues to broaden through political visits, trade and educational and tourism links, increased cultural exchanges and growing contacts.

 There has been substantial increase in trade and investment between Ireland and Nigeria and Ghana, with total exports to Nigeria and Ghana reaching over 375 million euros in 2014.

The Chief Executive Officer of Enterprise Ireland, Julie Sinnamon, said the trade mission is about helping Irish companies to optimise the opportunity that exists -- adding that the ambition is to reach export sales of 600 million euros to the region by 2018.

“It is also a country that is now firmly established as one of our key trading partners. It has particularly grown in significance over recent years, such that it is now one of our primary non-EU export destinations.

“My visit here will be about exploring further opportunities for cooperation between Ghana and Ireland across a range of sectors, from agri-food to energy to education,” he said.

Nigeria has the biggest economy in Africa and the 20^th-largest economy in the world. Both Nigeria and Ghana are experiencing healthy economic growth, and with a combined population of over 200 million, the region presents valuable opportunities for Irish companies in the agri food, education, training, geoscience and engineering, financial services and technology sectors.