Minister leads trade visit to China

Minister for State Billy Kelleher was in China today for the start of a week-long trade visit involving 13 Irish companies and high-level political and business meettings in the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Dalian and Cengdu.

Minister for State Billy Kelleher was in China today for the start of a week-long trade visit involving 13 Irish companies and high-level political and business meetings in the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Dalian and Cengdu.

Organised by Enterprise Ireland, the trade mission will focus on the financial services and education sectors. The companies participating on the mission are drawn from these sectors and are committed to growing their businesses in China.

“It is now more important than ever that we in Government provide the necessary supports for Irish companies to grow and access new markets," said Mr Kelleher, Minister for Trade and Commerce.

"This trade mission will help Irish companies develop their business in China and I am confident that many new opportunities will be generated as a result."

Irish exports to China have grown from €7m in 1979 to over €2.3bn in 2008.

There has been a steady increase in sales by Chinese companies in Ireland and bilateral trade is now worth over €6.5bn annually.