Minister for Business and Employment, Ged Nash TD pictured during a visit to Turkish Airlines Training Centre in Istanbul as part of the Enterprise Ireland trade mission to Turkey.

The Minister for Business and Employment, Ged Nash TD has concluded a 4-day Enterprise Ireland trade mission to Turkey during which new business was secured and business partnerships and contacts developed, underlining the growing opportunities for Irish companies in the developing Turkish market.

Organised in cooperation with the Irish Embassy in Ankara, the trade mission visited Ankara and Istanbul and involved 30 Irish companies focused on breaking into the Turkish market, or strengthening existing business relationships with Turkish companies.

Bilateral trade between Turkey and Ireland currently stands at over €1.2bn. In line with Enterprise Ireland’s strategy for growing export sales, the objective of the Trade Mission was to build on Ireland’s existing economic links with Turkey and boost bilateral trade between the two countries.

The visit facilitated practical relationship building for Irish companies with their current and prospective counterparts in Turkey, as well as raising the profile of Ireland at the highest levels of Government.

Speaking at the conclusion of the trade mission, Minister Nash said: “This was a successful mission both in terms of business secured and introductions and connections made. Supporting increased exports by Irish companies is at the very heart of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs.

“It is very encouraging to see Irish companies continuing to win new business in Turkey, assisted by Enterprise Ireland’s new office in Istanbul which supports Irish companies to grow their trade relationships and export sales in the market. One of those success stories is vehicle noise control specialists, Ventac, based in Blessington, Co. Wicklow, who announced they have become primary supplier to TEMSA Global, a leading Turkish bus and coach manufacturer which also exports to Europe and the USA.”

“Irish exports (merchandise and services) to Turkey were worth over €776 million in 2013. Bilateral trade between Ireland and Turkey is currently €1.2 billion. This is a very impressive figure, encouraging us to strengthen the ties between the two countries. Following this mission I am confident that this figure will increase steadily over the next few years.”

Minister Nash’s intensive 4-day schedule included nine individual meetings with Irish companies and their Turkish partners and customers, as well as 10 networking events with Turkish and Irish businesses and other key contacts. Minister Nash also met with Turkey’s Minister for Economy, participated in numerous media interviews, and launched Enterprise Ireland’s “Access Turkey” Guide. Ireland participated as Invited Partner at the TIM Innovation Week Conference in Ankara, which Minister Nash addressed and five Irish companies participated.

For more information see Enterprise Ireland’s “Access Turkey” Guide