ICBA Business Summit 2016 – Deepening Connections
Strengthening Links between Ireland and Canada - Business Summit In Iveagh House, with guest speaker Jean Charest, Former Quebec Premier Deputy Prime Minister of Canada and Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan.
The annual one day conference bought together the entire Ireland Canada business network.
There was the opportunity to hear business leaders and policy makers discuss the key issues and opportunities facing Irish Companies working in and for those going into the Canadian Market. The provinces of Ontario, Ottawa, Quebec, B.C. and Alberta will be strongly represented. The summit was at a critical moment for Ireland Canada trade, post Brexit referendum and before the finalization of CETA. The ideas and action items emanating from the conference will influence the infrastructure and scope of further trade and investment. Conversely Canadian business will detail their experiences of operating in Ireland.
SureSkills now well established in Canada were represented by Ruaidhri McSharry, President of SureSkills Canada pictured above with from left to right: Mr Kevin Vickers (Canadian Ambassador to Ireland), Ms Jacqueline Gilna (President of the Irish Chamber of Commerce Ottawa), Mr Jim Kelly (Ambassador of Ireland to Canada) and Mr Jean Charest (former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, form Premier of Quebec).
Our relationship with Canada and the work being we are doing with the Canadian government means a post Brexit discussion like this one is something we need to be directly involved in. The forthcoming implementation of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the European Union and Canada will further bolster the potential for trade between Ireland and Canada.
As Canada’s nearest neighbour to the EU, CETA presents Ireland with substantial opportunity to take the initiative in working with Canadian, international and domestic companies on significantly liberalised cross Atlantic trade. While indigenous Irish company exports to Canada have grown by over 250% in the last five years and currently stand at €185 million, it has been predicted that CETA will result in a €250m increase in Irish exports per annum.
The ICBA is committed to assisting their members in their bilateral investment and trade between Canada and Ireland. The ICBA has worked over the last 40 years to promote member views and protect their transatlantic businesses. It is for those reasons that we are delighted to be aligned to ICBA’s future plans.#
