Trade and Business JC 26 June 2002

1. The seventh meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council in the Trade and Business Development Sector was held at the Europa Hotel, Belfast on Wednesday 26 June 2002. The meeting dealt with issues relating to the Trade and Business Development Body, InterTradeIreland (ITI), which is one of the six North/South Implementation Bodies.

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

3. Information and communications technologies (ICTs) are an important global and local influence on economic growth and on business operations. In this context the Council discussed the development of a policy process that would identify value added potential in investment and supports to the benefit of the island as a whole.

4. The Council discussed priority fields in this context such as electronic business, upgrading ICT infrastructure and services and expanding electronic access by business to Government services. It was agreed that the Digital Island concept would provide a policy framework which can be used to initiate the fullest exploitation of digital technologies in support of increased trade and business development on the island. The concept would provide a new dynamic to economic vitality on the island.

5. In approving further work on the Digital Island concept, the Council recognised that its successful implementation will involve close consultation and collaboration with key organisations in both the public and private sectors. Council approved the establishment of a Steering Group that would further develop how the Digital Island concept could be implemented and asked that a progress report be prepared for the next Council meeting.

Science and Technology

6. Science, Technology and Innovation are critical to economic development and job creation on the island. In this regard the Council reviewed existing Science and Technology Programmes that have an all island dimension, and noted the work that InterTradeIreland is currently undertaking in this area. That work includes an all-island research and development network programme to facilitate the creation and strengthening of North/South collaborative partnerships with the island's higher education base as well as fostering networks of linkages within the island's industry base.

7. The Council discussed the potential to further expand North/South co-operation, under the auspices of InterTradeIreland and in association with relevant Government departments and agencies for the mutual benefit of North and South. The Council considered that the European Union dimension provided a useful and timely context in which to pursue and expand North/South co-operation on Science and Technology. In this connection it noted that the EU Framework Programmes have been set up to fund pan European collaborative research activities. The EU's Sixth Framework Programme, which will run from 2003 until 2006, is currently being finalised and could provide significant opportunities for an all island approach to funding proposals and North/South co-operation between companies and third level institutions. The Council also discussed the potential of other programmes such as the Science, Technology and Innovation Awareness Programme, the European Space Agency and EUREKA (a pan European network for market oriented industrial research and development), for enhanced co-operation.

8. The Council asked InterTradeIreland, in conjunction with Departments and Agencies and as mandated by legislation, to examine the feasibility of these new areas for co-operation and to provide a report and as appropriate, action proposals for the next Council meeting.

Framework Operating Plan 2003

9. At today's meeting, the Council also considered a Framework outlining the proposed main themes for InterTradeIreland's Operating Plan for 2003. These include Business and Economic Research, promotion of North/South Science and Technology research, Information and Communications Technology and eCommerce initiatives, 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.

10. The Council noted the Framework Plan thus allowing InterTradeIreland to proceed to develop a detailed Operating Plan for 2003 to be submitted to the Council at its next meeting.

11. The Council considered and approved InterTradeIreland's proposals in relation to the introduction and operation of a Performance Appraisal System for its employees.

12. The Council noted the publication of InterTradeIreland's Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2001, which in due course will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and the Northern Ireland Assembly.

13. The Chief Executive of InterTradeIreland, Mr Liam Nellis, reported on progress in implementing the Body's work programme since the last meeting of the Council. Some of these events included the EquityNetwork Programme that promotes the benefits of private equity finance for SMEs and the Business Forums project that discussed North/South business issues such as employment law and taxation.

14. The Council welcomed the report and noted that the operational activities of InterTradeIreland are yielding tangible benefits.

Date of Next Meeting

15. The Council agreed to meet again in this Sector in the South in October, 2002.

Joint Secretariat

26 June 2002