Trade and Business JC 30 June 2000

1. The second meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council in its Trade and Business Development Sectoral Format was held on Friday, 30 June 2000. The first meeting in this Sectoral Format was held in Newry on 24 January 2000.

2. The Irish Government was represented by Ms. Mary Harney T.D., Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The Northern Ireland Executive Committee Delegation comprised Sir Reg Empey MLA, Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and Dr Seán Farren MLA, Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment.

3. The Council acknowledged the importance of the role of the Trade and Business Development Body in enhancing co-operation between North and South on business development issues, and in the promotion of trade between the two parts of the island. Both sides looked forward to continuing to work together in the Council and with the Body in ensuring that the potential for mutual benefit in the economic area was realised to the full. The Council paid tribute to the valuable contribution being made in this regard by the Board of the Body.

4. Ministers acknowledged that the suspension of the Northern Executive and Assembly in February of this year, together with the necessary subsequent deferral of Board meetings of the Body, resulted in progress in a number of areas being slower than originally anticipated. However, the restoration of the Executive and Assembly on 30 May has injected a new energy into the process. This facilitated an early meeting of the Body on 1 June and to-day's Ministerial Council which considered a number of proposals relating to the activities of the Trade and Business Development Body and a number of administrative matters arising from its establishment.

5. The Interim Chief Executive of the Trade and Business Development Body, Mr Liam Nellis, provided the Council with an oral report on progress to date in taking forward the work of the Body. In particular, he advised Ministers of progress to-date on four key study areas relating to the potential role of the Body, ie:

Ministers expect to be in a position to consider the outcome of these studies at their next meeting. Mr Nellis also provided an update on arrangements to establish its Headquarters in Newry.

6. The Council considered and approved three papers submitted to it by the Body. These related to the following issues:

The Year 2000 Activity Programme includes various studies and actions aimed at enhancing co-operation on business development opportunities North and South in a number of areas including completion of the four key studies. Other projects to be undertaken include an E-Commerce initiative which will consider impediments to e-business usage in cross-border trade, development of an improved Database for measuring cross-border trade, a Sub-Supply initiative, and a review of options for enhancing cross-border co-operation in the field of Science and Technology.

7. The Council agreed that its next meeting in this sectoral format would take place in Northern Ireland during October 2000.

Joint Secretariat

30 June 2000