Firms ‘must work smarter to stay ahead’

THE global market has become more challenging for Irish firms and they will have to work smarter if they are to stay ahead, says Enterprise Ireland.

Maintaining competitiveness has become a key challenge for companies who have done well in recent years, according to Enterprise Ireland’s outgoing chief executive, Dan Flinter. So far, he said, 2003 has been a very tough environment for Irish exporters.

Euro pressure and falling wholesale prices have compounded difficulties for firms in the indigenous sector, but “our assessment is that the volume of exports by the indigenous sector are holding their own”.