SMEs concerned about rising costs

Small and medium businesses are concerned about the rising costs of doing business, but most plan to increase investment next year, according to the Irish Small and Medium Enterprise Association (ISME).

The organisation’s latest quarterly business trends survey also shows almost a third of companies plan to employ more people in 2007.

The manufacturing sector appears to be lagging behind again however.

ISME's Mark Fielding has now called on the Government to address this as a matter of urgency.

“It's time I think that the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment got straight down to business on the new manufacturing group that he has announced to be set up to tackle this area,” he said.

“Because without a manufacturing base, the economy will be in trouble.”