More than 30 Irish companies are jetting off for a trade mission in Turkey, it has been announced.
The firms from a range of sectors including aviation, engineering, education, ICT and telecommunications will visit the cities of Ankara and Istanbul during the four-day trip.
Ged Nash TD, Minister for Business and Employment who is leading the mission, said: “The objective of the intensive programme of activities this week is increased bilateral trade resulting in business growth and jobs here in Ireland, and also in Turkey.”
Bilateral trade between Turkey and Ireland already stands at more than €1.2bn.
Currently around 135 Irish-owned companies export to Turkey, five of whom have a direct presence in the country.
In January, Enterprise Ireland established a new overseas office in Istanbul.
Kevin Sherry, head of international sales and partnering at Enterprise Ireland, said: “Turkey is one of Europe’s largest economies and the gateway to the whole Eurasian region with a combined market of over 220 million consumers.”
Minister Nash is expected to meet the Turkish Minister for the Economy and hold a series of high-level business meetings with Irish companies and their existing or prospective Turkish partners and customers.
He will also be a keynote speaker at a leading Innovation Week Conference in Ankara and will hold press briefings with the Turkish media highlighting Ireland’s attractiveness as a location for inward investment.
The number of ministerial-led trade missions has more than doubled since 2011.