News & Events

Published on: Friday 24 October 2008

The latest findings from InterTradeIreland’s all-island Business Monitor survey show that cross-border trade still offers great opportunities to companies even in the current economic climate.

The survey which canvassed 1,000 companies found that 40% of the companies are helping their bottom line by doing business across the border. Indeed the average company turnover accounted for by cross-border trade is actually up to 19.3%, from 16.8% in 2007.

The Business Monitor also shows that barriers to cross-border trade have changed dramatically, with currency fluctuation cited as their main concern by 28% of companies, well ahead of concerns about political instability or the availability of business elsewhere.

However, finding practical information about doing business on the other side of the border also continues to be an issue for companies. The 2008 edition of A Simple Guide to Cross Border Business, published as part of InterTradeIreland’s MicroTrade initiative, aims to fill some of the knowledge gaps.

  Launching the 2008 Edition of the Simple Guide at MicroTrades recent "License to Export" Event are Brian Morgan (Morgan McManus Solicitors), Michael Farrell (FPM Chartered Accountants), Orla Charles (National Irish Bank) & Breanndán Casey (MicroTrade).

The Simple Guide has been produced in partnership with FPM Chartered Accountants, Morgan McManus Solicitors and the Northern Bank. It contains up-to-date information on a variety of cross-border issues with an additional chapter on debt collection for these times of ‘credit crunch’. The questions answered on tax, legal and currency issues are based on those most frequently asked concerning cross-border business. It also contains contact details for the experts behind the guide.

MicroTrade Project manager, Breanndán Casey, said: “MicroTrade deals solely with small companies many of which don’t have the experience or time to research cross-border issues.  This guide provides companies with all the information they require and points them in the direction of additional or more in-depth advice should they need it.  More importantly, it will go a long way to removing any apprehension about operating on a cross-border basis.”

Ninety pages of vital information on trading across the border can be found in A Simple Guide to Cross Border Business by clicking on www.intertradeireland.com or by telephoning Eoin Magennis for a copy at 028 3083 4100.

The Guidelines can also be accessed from the MicroTrade website at this link.