19 January 2000

TREMENDOUS PUBLIC SECTOR BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR NORTHERN IRELAND COMPANIES

"There is major potential for local suppliers to win a bigger share of the public sector market throughout the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland," Sir Reg Empey, MLA, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, said today.

Speaking during a visit to the one-day 'Meet the Buyer' event held in Larne, the Minister said: "Public sector bodies throughout the British Isles spend billions annually on products and services. Indeed, one of the public sector organisations at today's event has an annual procurement budget of around £2 billion.

"Some local companies are already active in this important marketplace but I believe many more could compete successfully for significant procurement contracts.

"Events such as this are important because they provide small and medium sized enterprises with an invaluable opportunity to find out what buyers want, what they need to do to improve their ability to compete for the business and to build relationships with potential customers.

Sir Reg added: "Attending an event of this type enables companies to glean potentially very important market information about trends and future developments within this sector.

"This knowledge could give them an edge over competitors, enabling them, for example, to adapt an existing product or to develop a new idea in line with the requirements of a particular buyer. Buyers are generally keen to explore with customers opportunities for new products or services.

"This is why I believe 'Meet the Buyer' events should be seen by local companies as an essential part of their marketing activities," he added .

Eighty suppliers from most parts of the North East are taking part in a series of scheduled appointments with 20 public sector buying organisations from Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Scotland.

The event is being organised by LEDU's North Eastern Regional Office, the CORE Councils and the Government Purchasing Agency. It aims to increase the share of public sector business available to small and medium sized enterprises in the North East and to provide public sector purchasing managers with information on the capability of local suppliers.

 

NOTE TO EDITORS

CORE councils are made up of Antrim, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Carrickfergus, Coleraine, Larne, Moyle and Newtownabbey district councils.

Further information can be obtained from Shauna Magill, Corporate Marketing, LEDU, at Telephone 028 9049 1031.