Increased Trade between Ireland and Canada
 ENTERPRISE Ireland in Canada has been working closely with Irish companies who increasingly are announcing new business in Canada. Minister Mary Coughlan T.D. [centre] is shown above on a recent trade mission to Canada with (L-R) Irish Ambassador Declan Kelly; Tom Cusack, Manager Enterprise Ireland Americas; Sandra O’Farrell; Ruth O’Donnell; Nick Marmion, (EI Toronto); Mary Coughlan, T.D.; Frank Ryan, CEO EI; Heather Thompson; Laura Coyle; Marguerite Bourke (EI Toronto); and Paschal Maguire, EI Dublin.
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 DECLAN KELLY, Irish Ambassador to Canada; Minister Dara Calleary TD; Nick Marmion, SVP, Enterprise Ireland, Canada.
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 JOHN WHELTON and Joe Aherne, Leading Edge with Sandra O’Farrell, Enterprise Ireland.
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 JERIC GALLAGHER, ATSR; Minister Mary Coughlan TD; Bruce Farr, Head of Toronto Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
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By MARGUERITE BOURKE
Trade relations between Ireland and Canada have never been so good, following a very successful 35 Irish company trade mission to Canada last October, led by An Tanaiste Mary Coughlan TD.
More than 220 Irish companies now sell goods and services into Canada and over 50 Irish companies operate offices and facilities in Canada, employing close to 5,500 Canadians.
This figure is expected to rise, as bilateral trade between Ireland and Canada will increase by EU100+ million this year, and sales into Canada by Irish companies have trebled in the past five years.
Enterprise Ireland in Canada has been working closely with Irish companies who increasingly are announcing new business in Canada.
About Enterprise Ireland, Toronto
Enterprise Ireland opened an office in Toronto in October 2006, on the occasion of a Trade Mission to Canada led by Minister Micheál Martin.
Enterprise Ireland (EI) is the Trade and Technology development organisation of the Irish Government.
Our mandate is to assist Irish companies to delvelop business relationships in Canada and increase exports of Irish manufactured goods and services.
Enterprise Ireland has over 30 offices worldwide, providing a wealth of resources to Irish companies in their endeavors to break into markets across the globe.
The Toronto office has four staff headed by Nick Marmion, who look after a range of Irish companies entering the Canadian market from sectors as diverse as Cleantech, Consumer, Animation and Pharmaceuticals.
The team has strong links into industry and the Irish community in Canada, through the various Chambers of Commerce.
We provide in-depth market research, introductions to business networks here and other assistance to Irish companies coming to Canada, whether it be their first visit to Canada or are at the stage where they are setting up an office here.
Why Canada?
More and more Irish companies are looking to Canada now, especially in sectors like financial services, where Canada’s banks have proved to be the most resilient in the world.
At any given time our team in Toronto are working with around 125 companies who are actively pursuing business opportunities in Canada.
Traditionally a lot of Irish companies have sought to break into the U.S. market following successes in the UK and Europe. Many of them have often overlooked Canada as a partner for business but this is set to change, with an average of 10 Irish companies set up in Canada every year.
There are strong cultural, social and historical ties between Ireland and Canada, and Canadians are very open to exploring business opportunities with the Irish. Our business cultures are quite similar, and Canadians are open to European companies.
Canadians are looking for long term business partnerships but like to see commitment from Irish companies through frequent trips to the market place. Canada is a market that requires a lot of time and persistence, but once Irish companies break through here they can reap the rewards with further traction in the market.
Canada is a good place for Irish companies to acquire North American learning, and to break into the U.S. from here. Irish exports to Canada have grown approximately 20 percent per year over the last five years – among the highest export growth of any global market.
Canada is attractive to Irish companies in terms of costs and strategic positioning for establishing a manufacturing base for NAFTA, particularly in the IT, pharmaceuticals, and agri-food sectors. Notable success stories include:
• One of the key Irish investments in Canada is the joint venture bakery owned by Cuisine de France (part of Aryzrta Group) and Tim Hortons. As a result of this tie-up, there are now 150+ Tim Hortons small franchises in Ireland.
• Kerry Group made its first acquisition in Canada in the early 1990s with further acquisitions over the years as the group has expanded as a major world manufacturer of food ingredients.
• CRH plc has acquired a number of small/medium Canadian companies involved in the production of concrete products and also in tempered and flat glass production.
• The Glen Dimplex Group acquired two major Canadian manufacturers of electric heaters: Chromalox and Westcan in the early 1990s.
Why Ireland?
One of the outstanding features of Canada-Ireland economic relations has been the high level of Canadian investment in Ireland.
With Canadian direct investment in the order of CDN$8 billion, Ireland is the fifth largest recipient of Canadian direct investment worldwide, after the USA, UK, Barbados, and the Netherlands.
There are significant benefits for Canadian companies in doing trade with Irish companies. Ireland provides a gateway to Europe and access to increasingly advanced European technological and software solutions.
There are opportunities for Canada to diversify its economy away from the U.S. and the American dollar, and tap into the European Union.
There are currently 50+ Canadian companies in Ireland. Some examples of leading Canadian companies in Ireland are IT and insurance companies which include Matrox Europe, GEAC (software), Canada Life Ireland and Sun Life Insurance.
Pharmaceutical companies include, Bioniche, Biovail, and Labopharm. 24 Canadian banks and financial institutions operate in Dublin’s International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) including Scotiabank, Bank of Montreal, CIBC, IG International, and AGF. Other Canadian business links in Ireland include Brown Thomas Department Stores which are owned by Galen Weston/Loblaws.
Opportunities for Irish Companies
Enterprise Ireland client companies have been successful in Canada across a wide range of industries and sectors. The following sectors are a good match to Irish supply capability.
1. The Financial Software & Telecoms Software sectors;
2. Life-sciences and Medical devices;
3. Digital media and Information Technologies (IT);
4. Cleantech;
5. Third level Education;
6. Agricultural Machinery, Engineering & Materials handling.
Irish Companies Doing Business in Canada:
Cork company Lincor Solutions Ltd. announced a multimillion Euro contract to install its innovative MEDIVista solution in the renowned London Health Sciences Center (LHSC), in Ontario.
Lincor's patented MEDIVista solution provides advanced clinical and multimedia entertainment functionality from a compact touchscreen monitor located at each patient bedside.
IdentiGEN has established a subsidiary in Canada as part of its growing business here. IdentiGEN provides DNA-based meat traceability solutions to scientifically track meat from the farm to the retail store.
The company also announced a research agreement with the University of Alberta in Edmonton to collaborate on genomics research in livestock to improve value chains.
Emergency vehicles technology firm Automatic Technology Systems and Research (ATSR) has invested EU1 million in an expansion which will see the company create up to 30 new high value jobs over the next two years.
The Tullamore firm is being supported by Enterprise Ireland and the investment will bring
the total workforce to over 50.
ATSR produces controlling systems for emergency vehicles, and has partnered with Toronto Emergency Medical Services (EMS) who provide emergency ambulance service to the City of Toronto.
Toronto EMS is the largest municipal land ambulance service in Canada, with approximately 200 ambulances and auxiliary vehicles and the sole emergency ambulance service in Toronto.
Openhydro, who recently participated with Enterprise Ireland at Globe 2010, is working with leading Canadian utility Nova Scotia Power to create a tidal demonstration project in the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Nova Scotia Power provides more than 97 percent of the electricity generation, transmission and distribution across the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.
Enterprise Ireland, Toronto is getting a large number of enquiries from Irish companies who are interested in exploring the vast Canadian market, which still remains relatively untapped for business opportunities.
We will continue to work closely with Irish companies who are looking to explore the Canadian market and to continue to foster relationships with the Canadian business companies.
For more information contact: Enterprise Ireland, Toronto at (416) 934-5033. See www.ireland-canada.ca or http://americas.enterprise-ireland.com.
Irish Clothing and Giftware Products
There is an extensive range of Irish clothing and giftware products in stores across Canada. Here’s a sample:
Fashion:
• Lee Valley Clothing www.leevalley.ie.
• Castle of Ireland www.castleknitwear.com.
• Carraig Donn www.carraigdonn.com.
• Magee Clothing www.mageeireland.com.
Knitwear:
• Ireland’s Eye Knitwear www.irelandseyeonline.com.
• John Molloy www.johnmolloy.com.
Fashion Accessories:
• Hats: Hanna Hats of Donegal www.hannahats.com.
• Footwear: Dubarry of Ireland www.dubarrycanada.ca.
Jewellery:
• Solvar /Tara www.solvar.ie.
• Shanore www.shanore.com.
• Fadó www.fadojewelry.com.
Perfumes:
• Fragrances of Ireland www.perfume.ie.
Interior Home:
• Wild Goose Studio www.wildgoosestudio.com.
• Mullingar Pewter www.mullingarpewter.com.
Irish Heritage Gift:
• Tailten Games & Puzzles www.tailtengames.com.
For more information on the individual products and where you can buy them consult the company website or your local Irish store.
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