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Ambition: 1

Export-focused Irish enterprises delivering growth across all regions

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Aerial view of a coastal peninsula with green grass on the land and sand visible in the shallows.
Key Targets:
+ 45,000 new jobs created by 2024
Over two-thirds of new jobs created in regions outside of Dublin
Total exports of €30bn by 2024, targeting a significant increase in new exporters
>70% of exports outside of the UK
Ireland’s position as a small open economy means that Irish enterprise succeeding in global markets is essential for our economic prosperity.

The Irish enterprise base must evolve and keep pace in the face of significant changes in customer needs, technology developments, global markets, and with the continuing economic uncertainty arising from Covid-19 and the new trading relationship with the UK.

Objectives

Accelerate the export growth and diversification of Irish enterprise

Enterprise Ireland will assist enterprises in achieving strong growth in international markets, supporting them to take a strategic approach to their international growth plans, maximise procurement opportunities and build scale in global markets. Enterprise Ireland will also help companies realise sustainable export growth through diversification into markets aligned with their stage of development and product or service offering.

Deliver a major expansion in the number of exporting companies in all regions

A central objective for the next three years is to drive a major expansion in the number of new exporting companies, reflecting the Government’s ambition of 2,000 new exporters by 2025, with 3,000 additional micro and start-up enterprises enabled as digital exporters. Working with the LEOs, Enterprise Ireland will deliver an integrated advisory and funding system to drive success for new exporters.

Drive job creation in all regions

Strengthening regional enterprise development will be a central focus for Enterprise Ireland in this strategy period. This can be achieved by working directly with companies in the regions, supporting food FDI investments, increasing enterprise collaboration through cluster and network development, and working with regionally-based partners through the Regional Enterprise Plan Steering Committees. Furthermore, related funding streams will help strengthen the enterprise ecosystem and infrastructure.

Initiatives
To deliver our objectives in this area, Enterprise Ireland will:
Regional job creation and new exporter development

Target job creation projects and maximise job retention across all regions of Ireland.

Deliver a major expansion in the number of new exporters in response to the SME Taskforce recommendations, working with the LEOs.

Regional development

Maximise the impact of collaborative regional funding initiatives, through the Regional Enterprise Development Fund, Regional Enterprise Transition Scheme and Regional Technology Cluster Funds, and including any agreed future regional enterprise development funding.

Review and update our ‘Powering the Regions’ strategy.

Export growth and diversification

Assist enterprises to take a strategic, and planned approach to their international growth, providing capability building measures (sales and marketing, pricing, talent attraction), market intelligence, and in-market advice.

Build digital sales and marketing capability in enterprises, to maximise growth in sales via global (online) marketplaces, embracing digital as a key export growth enabler for Irish enterprise.

Enhance the digital capability of Irish retail, delivering growth in domestic and global marketplaces, through the Online Retail Scheme.

Deliver a comprehensive programme of in-market and online engagement and showcase activities, including trade-missions, client-buyer engagements, and increased leveraging of Irish Advantage and Global Ambition platforms.

Target increased export diversification, building upon the coordinated measures delivered under the Enter the Eurozone programme, and through identifying and realising future market opportunities.