Twenty Irish businesses along with their UK clients or prospective customers attended a special business breakfast in Manchester this morning.
President Michael D Higgins was guest of honour at the Enterprise Ireland organised business breakfast.
The event highlighted the strength of business relationships between Ireland and the north-west of England.
In total the 20 Irish companies who were present export €100m of goods and services to the UK annually, creating local employment in construction, engineering and technology.
The UK is Ireland’s main trading partner, accounting for 38% of indigenous exports.
For British businesses, Ireland is the 5th largest export market, and Britain exports more to Ireland than it does to Brazil, Russia, India and China combined.
Ireland was the 4th largest European investor in the UK in 2010, while the UK is, likewise, the 4th largest European investor in Ireland.
There has been a number of developing relationships and opportunities in the Northwest including the ESB recently announcing a €640m investment for a new combined cycle gas turbine power station in Carrington outside of Manchester and the construction of the new £6m Irish World Heritage Centre in Manchester.
In 2011, Enterprise Ireland client companies achieved a record €15.2bn in exports globally, exceeding pre-recession record levels and achieving a 12% growth over 2010.
Total exports from Irish owned companies to UK for 2011 was £5.5bn.
