Trade: IPBN launches in Algarve

The Ireland-Portugal Business Network is to launch in the Algarve on June 14 at the Hotel Hilton Vilamoura.

At the launch Tony Boyle, IPBN Chairman and the Irish Ambassador and IPBN Honorary Patron Orla Tunney will host a panel debate to discuss the growing opportunities for business between Ireland and Portugal.

Keynote speakers and participants will include Gerry Fagan (Decade Development Management), Declan Conway (Global Sustainability Initiative), Geoffrey Graham (EDGE/Director of IPBN) and Francisco Mello (CEO of bank BPI).

The aim of the Ireland-Portugal Business Network is to stimulate and boost trade between the two countries by helping Irish and Portuguese companies broaden their network, make contacts and drive sales and increase business as well as offering assistance to Irish companies looking to set up in Portugal and meet potential business contacts.

Tony Boyle says “Our objective is to facilitate the better understanding of economic relations between Ireland and Portugal and promote relationships between the representatives of the business communities of both countries and encourage the growth of trade and bi-lateral investment between them.

“The increase in the number of Portuguese companies doing business in Ireland over the last few years is truly outstanding and underpins the potential. Likewise, the opportunities for Irish companies to work in partnership with our colleagues in Portugal is excellent.”

Aoife Healy, Head of Communications for Network tells Essential Business, “We’re launching in the Algarve because of growing interest and business in the region and Ireland, particularly in the tourism area since tourism is Portugal’s biggest export to Ireland.

“We launched the Network in September 2016 in the presence of Michael O’Leary, the CEO of Irish carrier Ryanair and in 2018 we’ve had two high-profile events in Lisbon, one of which included the Chairman of TAP Portugal, Miguel Frasquilho which was a great success.”

The Network currently has 50 paid-up corporate members and over 500 subscribers and growing. “We have the endorsement of the Portuguese-Irish Chamber of Commerce and Invest Lisboa.

The IPBN also has a memorandum of understanding with AICEP for the promotion of Portuguese business interests and a close working relationship with the Irish State Agencies including Enterprise Ireland,” she concluded.