Irish businesses can look to German speaking countries for the prospect of high growth

6th December 2019

• Enterprise Ireland client company exports from Ireland to DACH in 2018 totalled over €1.1 billion
• Minister Pat Breen TD opens Enterprise Ireland’s Ambition Germany, Austria, Switzerland event in Limerick today to highlight the merits of entering and growing business in the DACH region 

Earlier today, Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, Pat Breen TD joined H.E. Deike Potzel, Ambassador of Germany to Ireland and representatives from over seventy Irish companies at Enterprise Ireland’s Ambition Germany event which took place in Limerick’s Thomond Park.

In November, Enterprise Ireland led several Irish agri companies to showcase their innovative technologies at Agritechnica, the world’s leading agricultural technology and engineering fair in Hanover, Germany while just last week, Enterprise Ireland opened its second German office in Munich.

With 15,000 people already employed by Irish companies in Germany, there is potential for further expansion.

Speaking at the event, Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, Pat Breen TD said, “As Europe’s largest economy, Germany represents significant opportunity for growth for businesses in key sectors such as life sciences, pharmaceuticals, automotive and agritech. Smart businesses recognise the value of diversifying their export markets as a means of future proofing their ability to build scale and resilience. An examination of the business landscape and culture of the DACH region shows that Irish companies have much to gain.”

Enterprise Ireland Regional Director in the Eurozone, Anne Lanigan added, “It is our mission to help Irish companies grow their business in the DACH region. The opening of our new office in Munich and additional personnel and investment elsewhere in the Eurozone is a key Brexit response measure to deepen trade opportunities for Irish companies in the Eurozone.

“That said, even before the Brexit vote in 2016, Irish companies were increasing their access to the German market. In fact, in 2018 Enterprise Ireland client company exports from Ireland to the DACH region totalled over €1.1 billion.

“Events such as todays are vitally important in order to encourage more Irish companies to start to export to German speaking regions and support current exporters to achieve even greater gains.

“Ambitious businesses looking to grow in Germany or other European markets are given a comprehensive insight from our local market experts and other Irish companies that are already winning business in these mature markets.”

ENDS

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