Tánaiste begins trade mission to Turkey
Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore will today lead 24 Irish export companies on a trade mission to Turkey.
The Enterprise Ireland four day trip is aimed at boosting links between the two countries.
Mr Gilmore, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, will also visit a Syrian refugee camp on the Turkish border and hold high-level political meetings with Turkey’s foreign and European affairs ministers on Turkey’s EU candidacy.
“Turkey is one of Europe’s largest economies and an important, strategic link between Europe and the Asian economies of the region,” he said.
“This market presents compelling growth opportunities for Irish companies and this visit is about helping them tap that potential.
“Trade missions are of critical importance in building on existing links and opening new doors for increased exports and collaborative business ventures.
“They are key to supporting Irish companies as they seek to grow, increase their exports and open new markets.”
The Tánaiste will visit both Ankara and Istanbul where he will have a series of meetings with the Turkish President Abdullah Gl, several ministers and senior officials on trade and economic cooperation, as well as business meetings with Irish companies and their Turkish partners and customers.
Bilateral trade between Turkey and Ireland was worth more then one billion euro in 2012.
The 24 innovative exporting firms taking part in the trade mission are from a range of sectors including engineering, international education, ICT and telecommunications, life sciences and software.
