Irish ‘way behind the game’ in Asian markets

Irish companies are “way behind the game” in terms of tapping into the enormous Asian market, partly due to a traditional mindset that’s holding back expansion.

Most Irish businesses look to traditional markets such as the UK, US and a few major European economies to expand their business but far fewer eye the largely untapped Asian market to grow their sales, according to a leading expert.

The value of trade between Irish firms and their Asian counterparts remains very modest at €1.4bn despite recent improvements, according to Martin Murray, executive director of the independent institute, Asia Matters.