§ Mr. Peter Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to promote exports from Northern Ireland since he took office; and what structures exist at home and abroad to promote exports.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe Northern Ireland Department of Commerce acts as regional office for the British Overseas Trade Board, and firms in the Province have access to the same comprehensive system of market intelligence, promotional aids and other services as are available, through the board and through Foreign and Commonwealth Office posts abroad, to firms elsewhere in the United Kingdom. The Ulster Office, which is the Department's office in London, supports Northern Ireland's export interests, not least through contact with foreign buyers. In addition, the Northern Ireland Development Agency has a marketing unit, which is concentrating on the potential for creating marketing companies to support the sales efforts of Northern Ireland firms.
144WThe Government have set out to strengthen Northern Ireland's export efforts by taking the initiative in coordinating exhibition and sales promotion opportunities for individual sectors. The Government recently mounted a special seminar to outline its trade support services and to seek the views of industry on how these services might be most effectively directed.