Trade and Business JC 23 January 2002

1. The sixth meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council in its Trade and Business Development Sectoral Format was held at the Castletroy Park Hotel, Limerick on Wednesday 23 January 2002. The meeting dealt with issues relating to the Trade and Business Development Body, InterTradeIreland, which is one of the six North/South Bodies.

2. The Irish Government was represented by Ms Mary Harney, TD, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, who chaired the meeting. The Northern Ireland Administration was represented by Sir Reg Empey, MLA, Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and Mrs Carmel Hanna MLA, Minister for Employment and Learning.

3. The Chief Executive of InterTradeIreland, Mr Liam Nellis, reported to the Council on progress in implementing the Body's work programme. He updated the Council on recent achievements of the Body and outlined key activities in which it will be engaged in 2002.

4. The Council welcomed Mr Nellis' report, and commended the Body for its efforts. They encouraged the Body to ensure that its programmes result in tangible benefits for business.

Operating Plan 2002

5. At its meeting in this sector in September 2001, the Council approved InterTradeIreland's Corporate Plan for 2002-2004. The Corporate Plan outlined the strategic goals for the organisation for the period. At today's meeting, the Council considered InterTradeIreland's Operating Plan for 2002, which expresses the specific actions by which the Corporate Plan will be implemented during the current year.

6. The main activities outlined in the Operating Plan include Research, Information and Communications Technology and eCommerce, the promotion of North/South Institutional and Business Alliances, the Development of an All-Island Business Model, Knowledge Transfer and the Promotion of Private Equity.

7. The Council approved the Operating Plan for InterTradeIreland and asked to be kept informed of progress in the achievement of the targets contained in the Plan.

The Council considered InterTradeIreland's proposals in relation to the introduction and operation of a scheme of financial assistance. The scheme sets down the general principles and arrangements, which would apply to the assessment, monitoring and evaluation of assisted projects. The Council approved the scheme and noted that a comprehensive review of its operations would be undertaken three years after the date of its commencement.

Against the background of a large and expanding all island public procurement market, the Council considered an interim position paper on Public Procurement, which had been developed on a consultancy basis for InterTradeIreland by PricewaterhouseCoopers. The paper highlights areas where InterTradeIreland could promote North/South co-operation in public procurement practice. There was a useful exchange of views on the issues raised in the consultation paper. The Council noted the key findings contained therein and asked to see InterTradeIreland's proposals resulting from the findings and recommendations of the final report of the consultants.

The Council also paid tribute to the late Mr Jim Tunney, who died recently. Mr Tunney was, at the time of his death, a member of the Board of the North/South Language Body, An Foras Teanga. The Council conveyed its condolences to Mr Tunney's wife and family.

The Council agreed to meet again in this Sectoral Format in Northern Ireland in April, 2002.

Joint Secretariat

16 January 2002