China is set to overtake the likes of France and Japan to become Ireland’s fourth largest export destination by 2030, the Irish Exporters’ Association has forecast.

SMEs are being urged to sign up for a trade mission next month, aimed at boosting export links between Ireland and India.

Looking to emerging Asian markets for new business must be a top priority for Irish companies, two separate conferences communicated as their central message yesterday.

IRISH trade with India can increase by almost 400% to €1 billion a year, exporter organisations in both countries believe.

Mr Don Moore, chairman of the Irish Exporters Association (IEA) Asia Trade Forum, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Gansu Province of China to provide a business-to-business platform to assist exporters to effectively penetrate the Chinese market of Gansu.