All-island economic development agency InterTradeIreland said it has directly assisted more than 60,000 businesses across the island since it was founded 25 years ago.
The business organisation, which is responsible for directly supporting, promoting and enhancing all-island trade and collaboration, also said that more than 12,000 businesses across the island of Ireland benefitted from its support last year alone.
InterTradeIreland was established in 1999 under Strand Two of the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement and it has generated €1.95 billion in business development value, supported entrepreneurs to secure over €350m in investment and led the way in growing collaborative innovation, all- island clustering and cross-border trade from €2 billion to €12 billion.
InterTradeIreland today called for more businesses to take advantage of the cross-border opportunity as a route to growth.
Its research shows that the vast majority of first-time exporters in the cross-border market go on to export off the island, enjoying higher levels of growth and profitability.
It said it has clear plans for the future, including growing the sales of businesses exporting cross-border and the number of first-time exporters as well as growing all-island innovation partnerships and connections in high value sectors to scale innovation, productivity and to drive adaptation of new technologies.
It also plans to accelerate all-island entrepreneurship, including the number of women entrepreneurs.
InterTradeIreland chief executive Margaret Hearty said the organisation plays a unique role in identifying opportunities for North-South collaboration that can accelerate growth in both economies, as well as connecting business across the island to export cross-border, collaborate, innovate and attract investment.
"With cross-border trade now at an all-time high, there has never been a better time for businesses to take advantage of the all-island economy and with our support, there is scope for further growth," she said.
"Across the island there are many shared policy priorities and economic opportunities that can be best addressed by working with our partners. We were established to work across the island, and so facilitating and delivering collaboration is in our DNA," she added.
