Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Promotion of Northern Ireland Businesses Overseas

Wednesday 21 June 2023 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Windsor framework allows Northern Ireland to access both UK and EU markets, enhancing business opportunities.
  • Lowden Guitars has successfully exported products to Australia with the help of the UK Export Academy.
  • The New Deal for Northern Ireland includes funding for projects like Skill Up and Invest NI trade promotion efforts.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Robbie Moore Con Keighley and Ilkley
Northern Ireland Business & Trade
Context

The Windsor framework has provided unique opportunities for Northern Ireland, including privileged access to the EU market and UK services regulation.

Question

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to promote Northern Ireland businesses overseas. The Windsor framework allows Northern Ireland to benefit from both UK and EU markets, but specific actions are needed to leverage this advantage.

Answer from Steven Baker

As a result of the Windsor framework, Northern Ireland will be in the unique position of being part of the UK internal market as of right, having privileged access to the EU market, being under UK services regulation, and having access to the free trade agreements to which we are acceding. In addition, I have led trade missions with Invest Northern Ireland to Canada and South Korea to promote brilliant Northern Ireland businesses overseas, and will take further similar steps.

Answered
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Q2 Andrew Selous Con
Northern Ireland Business & Trade
Context

The UK Export Academy was brought forward by the Department for Business and Trade to support businesses in exporting.

Question

What will be the benefit to businesses in Northern Ireland of working with the UK Export Academy? Lowden Guitars, a company from County Down, has successfully exported its products to Australia using this programme.

Answer from Steven Baker

I am very grateful to my hon. Friend for highlighting the UK Export Academy, brought forward by the Department for Business and Trade. To illustrate its success, I would point to Lowden Guitars, which takes its products from its factory in County Down to customers in Australia. I encourage businesses across Northern Ireland, and indeed across the UK, to use the Export Academy, as he implicitly suggests.

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Q3 Robbie Moore Con Keighley and Ilkley
Economy Northern Ireland Business & Trade
Context

The government has announced a £400 million investment as part of the New Deal for Northern Ireland, aimed at boosting economic growth.

Question

How will the New Deal for Northern Ireland funding help to boost economic growth and increase Northern Ireland's competitiveness overseas? The funding includes projects such as Skill Up, a cyber-AI hub, and Invest NI trade promotion efforts.

Answer from Steven Baker

The £400 million in the new deal for Northern Ireland funding will underscore the UK's commitment to supporting and protecting the interests of people and businesses in Northern Ireland. New deal funding has been invested in projects such as £15 million for the Skill Up project to improve skills, £11 million for a cyber-AI hub at Queen's University Belfast, and a number of other projects, including £8 million for Invest NI to help to promote trade.

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Q4 Ian Paisley Jnr DUP
Climate Northern Ireland
Context

COP28 provides a significant opportunity for Northern Ireland businesses, particularly those involved in hydrogen technology.

Question

What is the Northern Ireland Office doing, and what is the Minister doing, to promote Northern Ireland businesses at COP28? The questioner mentions a hydrogen hub in his area and asks about opportunities related to this technology.

Answer from Steven Baker

I know that the hon. Gentleman has a personal interest in this subject, and I should be happy to meet him to discuss how we can do more. There are some excellent businesses in Northern Ireland, including Catagen, which has an incredible technology for converting wind power and water into hydrocarbon fuels, and other businesses which should have the opportunity to participate.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Meeting request instead of concrete actions or timeline

How: I Should Be Happy To Meet Him

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