The British Irish Chamber of Commerce held its inaugural 'Business Beyond Brexit' seminar in Cork this morning - the first in a series of regional events taking place over the coming weeks.
According to the chamber's director general John McGrane, the aim is to encourage businesses to take the opportunity of the extended Brexit deadline to prepare for whatever comes once Britain finally leaves the European Union.
He said he wanted firms to make good use of that time, and really prepare for all of the eventualities - not just on the down-side but also on the up-side.
"I think there are significant opportunities for the Munster region and the greater Cork area," he said.
"Leveraging huge skills and opportunities that already exist for industries like the life-sciences sector, financial services, food and technology," he stated.
The region's "thriving" port system could also be better used to foster even better links between businesses there and those in Britain, Mr McGrane said.
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"Obviously people will trade beyond the UK, but we've always traded with our neighbours, and we always will and we're here today to talk about positive opportunities for people to do even more," he said.
Given the prospect of trade tariffs - and other barriers - in as little as five months' time, many firms would be forgiven for wanting to steer clear of the British market altogether.
Mr McGrane said that was understandable, but there were undeniable links between the Irish and British business communities which would remain even in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
"In reality the amount of trade that happens between the UK and Ireland - well over €70 billion a year - proves that there are significant common factors to the two markets," he said. "Same language, relatively easy access and great skills transfer between the two islands."
Mr McGrane believes there would still be significant trade done - and while he hoped there were as few hurdles as possible introduced by Brexit, he expected many sectors would still have a relatively easy path to trade.
"Obviously we're advocating for as little impact as possible and there could indeed be some significant impact for our food sector, but in many other sectors the issues are much more about delays, rather than impact on direct costs," he said.
"But also to think for businesses that have really competitive businesses in their own right, to use this time to be as competitive as possible and to use the links that people like ourselves in the chambers movement have to find new trading partners to offset the losses that might come.
"Believe me, we've always traded and we always will," he added.
