Underused food and forestry sectors offer potential to boost exports

THE food and forestry sectors are underused and offer great potential to compete internationally and boost exports, according to Engineers of Ireland president Martin Lowery.

Mr Lowery, former chief executive of Coillte during its transformation from a civil service organisation to a successful commercial state company, said Ireland possessed tremendous untapped potential in natural resource-based industries.

“While the development of technology-based sectors remains crucial, our wealth of resources across forestry, food and energy offers us enormous potential for competitive advantage. These natural resources offer the best prospects for an internationally competitive indigenous industry, which is what Ireland badly needs.”