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Ambassador of Canada to Ireland, Kevin Vickers addresses SMEs in Shannon

Ambassador of Canada to Ireland, HE. Kevin Vickers, (centre) photographed before addressing SMEs at Irish Exporters Association National Export Hub Seminar in Shannon airport with Simon McKeever, Chief Executive, Irish Exporters Association and Vicki O’Toole, Managing Director, JJ O’Toole.

Ambassador of Canada to Ireland, Kevin Vickers addresses SMEs in Shannon

The second National Export Hub Networking Seminar of 2017 took place yesterday and the event was headlined with a keynote address from H.E. Kevin Vickers, the Ambassador of Canada to Ireland.

Kevin Vickers provided expert insight into the new Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the EU and Canada. Attendees were briefed on tariff elimination; simplified border procedures; streamlined supply chains; and greater access to Canadian government procurement contracts. 


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The Networking Seminar took place at the Viewing Gallery at Shannon Airport, and was run by the National Export Hub an initiative of the Irish Exporters Association and sponsors ABP Foods, AIB, DHL Express, Euler Hermes and PwC in conjunction with Bord Bia and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The aims of the seminar were to educate and inform Irish SMEs around the practicalities of exporting, the assistance available and the solutions they ought to consider to help them to grow their exports and in some cases, export for the first time.

H.E. Kevin Vickers, Canadian Ambassador to Ireland commented: “With the implementation of CETA (this Thursday), Canada, Ireland, and the EU have set the standard for a new generation of trade agreements that reflect the progressive values that we share for the benefit of all. With CETA, we are all winners.”

The event, titled “Market Diversification and Business Opportunities in Canada and North America” is timely as the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) will be provisionally applied on 21st September. From that date duty rates on traded goods will be reduced or eliminated.

This morning’s seminar focused particularly on the potential export opportunities for Irish companies trading in Canada and North America.

Simon McKeever, Chief Executive, Irish Exporters Association commented: “The National Export Hub is a service offering dedicated to helping and supporting SMEs, whether that is assisting them on their current export journey or helping those new to exporting with advice and support as they look to scale their business by entering new markets.”

“We are particularly delighted today to have the Canadian Ambassador, Kevin Vickers address Irish SMEs on the future of the Irish-Canadian bi-lateral trade relationship and the new CETA agreement. What Brexit has shown us is that Ireland needs to grow its market share in other markets and become less reliant on not only the UK but also the EU and US.”

The publication launched at the event today, ‘An Exporters Guide’ is a collaboration between the Irish Exporters Association, the programme sponsors ABP Foods, AIB, DHL Express, Euler Hermes and PwC and programme collaborators Bord Bia, Department of Foreign Affairs and InterTradeIreland.

The publication will be an important point of reference for anyone looking to expand their business beyond Ireland. It is targeted at Irish SME’s, early stage and first-time exporters and provides advice on all aspects of exporting including Finance, Insurance, Logistics and Tax. It also features best practise advice from a well-established exporter and first-hand advice from an early stage exporter.

To visit the official website for the Irish Exporters Association click here

To read more business stories on I love Limerick click here

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