Pictured are at the CEO Forum launch are (l-r): Frank Ryan, Chief Executive Officer, Enterprise Ireland, Brendan Jennings Managing Partner, Deloitte and keynote speakers Louise Phelan, Vice President, PayPal and Fidelma McGuirk, Managing Director, Taxback.com

Ireland’s reliance on domestic demand should be a thing of the past. This was signalled by the results of a new survey by Enterprise Ireland and Deloitte which found that almost three quarters (72%) of Irish CEOs see overseas markets as far more significant to Ireland’s economic recovery than the local economy, believing that greater participation in these markets will speed up the process. The survey was carried out on 365 CEOs registered to attend this year’s CEO Forum hosted by Enterprise Ireland and Deloitte.

According to Frank Ryan, CEO of Enterprise Ireland, “The record export sales achieved by Irish companies in recent years clearly show that investing in internationalisation delivers for Irish companies.  We continue to support existing Irish exporters in securing overseas business but, knowing the opportunity that’s out there, we are also ramping up our efforts with more potential exporters to help them realise the opportunities that exist for them beyond domestic market.”
Brendan Jennings, Managing Partner, Deloitte, added: “There is a growing realisation within Irish businesses that even relatively small firms need to be more focused on the opportunities abroad and less on the traditional home market”.

The survey also identified that only 21% of business leaders believe that Ireland will return to consistent strong GDP growth in 2013, while two thirds (67%) envisage that scenario during 2014.

The primary focus of the CEO Forum is to create an opportunity for chief executives to discuss what they perceive to be the major issues facing their companies and Irish businesses. The forum provides a unique opportunity for CEOs to share information, air their views and hear, first-hand, the experiences of some of Ireland’s leading CEOs, who talk about their businesses and the challenges they face both nationally and internationally.

 “Growth is on the Horizon” was the theme of this year’s event and the speakers included: Louise Phelan, Vice President, Global Operations EMEA, PayPal, Fidelma McGuirk, Managing Director, Taxback.com, Chris Martin, Chief Executive, Musgraves and Colm McCarthy, Lecturer in Economics at UCD.


Listen to Sinead Morris, RTE Radio 1 reporter, speaking to some of the CEOs about their efforts to grow their businesses in the current climate.