Trade and Business JC 27 October 2000
Trade and Business Development Sector
Belfast, Friday 27 October 2000
Joint Communiqué
1. The third meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council in its Trade and Business Development Sectoral Format was held in Belfast on Friday 27 October 2000. The meeting dealt with issues relating to the Trade and Business Development Body, which is one of the six North/South Implementation Bodies.
2. The Northern Ireland Executive Committee Delegation comprised Sir Reg Empey, MLA, Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (who chaired the meeting) and Dr Seán Farren MLA, Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment. The Irish Government was represented by Ms Mary Harney, TD, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
Report from the Board
3. The meeting commenced with a report from the Trade and Business Development Body on the progress made to date in setting up the Body. This included briefing Ministers on the re-location of the offices of the Body to its new Headquarters in Newry, arrangements for appointing its permanent staff and future activities. The Board was represented by its Vice-Chairman, Mr Harold Ennis.
4. The Ministers welcomed the considerable progress in establishing the Trade and Business Development Body and the volume of work which has been completed by the Board of the Body. Both sides looked forward to continued progress in the development of Trade and Business in the two parts of the island. Ministers acknowledged the commitment of Board members and looked forward to a greater focus on its business agenda as it moves beyond the start-up phase.
5. Mr Liam Nellis, Interim Chief Executive of the Trade and Business Development Body, provided the Council with an update of the work being undertaken by the Body to date. The Interim CEO also confirmed the final arrangements for a series of Roadshows which will take place next month at four locations (two North and two South). The objectives of these Roadshows is to:-
- highlight trade and business development issues on the island of Ireland.
- initiate/develop contacts between business organisations in both jurisdictions.
- publicise the Trade and Business Development Body throughout Ireland
Ministers have agreed to participate in the Roadshows the first of which will be held in Dublin on 2nd and 3rd November.
Proposals by the Trade and Business Development Body
6. In accordance with the Agreement establishing the Trade and Business Development Body, the Body was tasked with bringing forward to the North/South Ministerial Council proposals for consideration in four particular areas. These relate to:
- the development of a North/South equity investment fund programme;
- the development of graduate and other placement programmes on a North/South basis;
- the carrying out of a range of testing services for industry with a view to the development of testing services, North/South, on a fully commercial basis by private interests; and
- the implementation of standards development and certificate programmes on a North/South basis.
The Council had a valuable initial discussion on the Board's proposals on these matters.
In the important areas of Equity/Venture Capital and Placement Programmes, Ministers have requested the Board to undertake further work with a view to drawing up suggestions for future action for their consideration.
The Council agreed with the conclusions of the Board that it could not usefully add value on an all-island basis in the areas of Testing/Analytical Services and Standards, Certification and Accreditation. However, the work conducted by the Body on standards has resulted in some new approaches in co-operation between the bodies responsible for these areas in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Appointment of Chief Executive
7. The Council considered the recommendations of a Selection Panel on the appointment of a Chief Executive to the Trade and Business Development Body. The name of the candidate put forward by the Selection Panel was accepted by the Council and a further announcement will be made in due course following acceptance of the appointment.
Competitiveness
8. The Plenary meeting of the NSMC in September had a useful exchange on an Irish Government paper on enhancing competitiveness of the two economies on the island, North and South. It was agreed at that time that it would be valuable if further consideration could be given to the matter by the Council in its Trade and Business Development Format at its meeting today, with a view to reporting to the next Plenary Meeting.
The matter was therefore considered further by the Council at today's meeting. The Council agreed that the study would be taken forward by the Body in co-operation with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in Dublin and Belfast respectively, with a view to a competitiveness report being prepared for the next Plenary meeting of the Council in 2001.
Date of Next Meeting
9. The Council agreed to meet again in this Sectoral Format in the South in January/February 2001.
Joint Secretariat
27 October 2000