Chairman's Statement

On behalf of the Asia Trade Forum Council and Members, I would like to welcome you to the Forum’s

website. I hope that you will feel welcome to become involved, attend our events and support our

efforts to grow Ireland’s two-way trade with Asia.

I was honoured to be elected Chairman of the Forum at the end of 2012, taking over from Colin

Lawlor, now President of the Irish Exporters Association. I am one of the two, current Vice Presidents

of the IEA and CEO of Associated Marketing Ltd., an export acceleration company that was

established in 1970 and operates in emerging markets in the Asia.

In 2011, the Asia Trade Forum (ATF) launched its current 5-year strategy. We all know the economic

situation in which Ireland finds itself. It is serious but we will pull out of it. Exports have a critical role

to play in this and, in particular, exports to the emerging and fast growing markets in Asia.

The ATF comprises members of the Irish exporting community who want to share their experience

and expertise, to play their part in helping Irish companies and Ireland to increase trade between

Ireland and Asia. We work closely with government and the Dept. of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and

with Enterprise Ireland, one of our sponsors, to deliver this important objective. We also work closely

with the bi-lateral trade associations such as the Ireland Malaysia Association and Ireland India

Business Association.

THE ASIA TRADE FORUM’S VISION is for Ireland to emerge as one of Asia’s preferred trading partners for

EU trade. We want to celebrate and build on the albeit modest increase in Irish trade with China in

2012 but one that was achieved even while EU trade with China dropped by 3%. Ultimately, we want

Irish exports to Asia to increase from 4% to 8-10% of Ireland’s total exports in the period 2011-16.

To do that:

(a) We need to help Irish businesses to get to know Asia better and for Asia to get to know

Ireland better;

(b) We need to connect successful practitioners to inspire and assist others to realise their

potential in these markets, and

government to remove them.

During 2013, we will again hold a series of events and we will run Business Visits to at least 2 Asian

markets. Please click on the Events tab on this page for further details of these activities. We will also

again support the Masters in International Business Programme in UCD and we are delighted to be

launching a similar mentoring initiative with the University of Limerick towards the end of the year.

Our programme would not be possible without the support of our sponsors and I would like to

acknowledge each:

• Enterprise Ireland

• Etihad Airways, a multi-year winner of the World’s Leading Airline Award

• Euler Hermes, the world’s leading credit insurer with local offices in 11 countries in Asia.

• FCM Travel Solutions whose awards include Asia Pacific’s Leading Travel Management

Company

• Grant Thornton who have offices throughout the world and across Asia.

• Ulster Bank, who have offices throughout Asia and are ardent supporters of Ireland-Asia

trade.

• William Fry, champions of the Ireland-India Business Association as well as the ATF.

I would also like to acknowledge the support of the Export Trade Council, John Whelan (CEO, Irish

Exporters Association), the voluntary work of our Forum Council Members, the staff of the Irish

Exporters Association and, in particular, Ashley Beston as executive manager of the Asia Trade

Forum.

Further information on our strategy is available at: Asia Trade Forum traded policy strategy document "Trading with the Asia Pacific Region 2011 – 2015"

Warmest Regards

Hugh Kelly

Chairman

Asia Trade Forum