Goods exports up 6% on annual basis – Minister Bruton

The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD, today (Friday) welcomed new merchandise trade figures published by the CSO which show that goods exports in April are up 6% on the same month in 2012.

The figures also show a 12% year-on-year increase in exports of medical and pharmaceutical products, which reached €2.04 Billion in April 2013.

Speaking today from Luxembourg, where he is chairing a meeting of the EU Trade Council aimed at reaching agreement on a mandate to start talks with the United States on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, Minister Bruton said:

“A strong export performance will be crucial to delivering the economic recovery we are all working so hard to achieve. Through the Action Plan for Jobs, the Government is determined to rebuild a sustainable economy based on enterprise, innovation and exports, and we are delivering on measures to deepen and develop the impact of multinational investment here and to make it easier for Irish companies to export more.

“It is clear to me from the trade and investment missions I have travelled on that while conditions in international markets remain difficult, Irish companies and multinational companies based in Ireland are working very hard and can compete with the very best on the global stage.

“In the past year since we launched the Action Plan for Jobs we have seen more than 2,000 extra jobs created in the private sector every month, with exporting sectors leading the way. Through strong implementation of new initiatives both at national and European level I am determined to sustain and accelerate this progress, continue to grow our exports and create the jobs we need”.