Ireland to seek new opportunities after Brexit: Irish minister

DUBLIN - The Irish government will help home-grown businesses seize new opportunities, including in China, in response to the challenges of Brexit, a senior Irish official said here on Wednesday.

China can play a role in helping Ireland diversify its export market in order to reduce the negative impacts of Brexit on Irish exporters as China is a large growing market for high quality goods and services, Irish Business, Enterprise and Innovation Minister Heather Humphreys said.

"Ireland should be considered as China's gateway to Europe," she also noted at a function hosted by consulting firm PwC Ireland at its headquarters in Dublin.

"As an English-speaking and opening economy, a eurozone member and an influential player in the diplomacy of the EU, Ireland is an attractive prospect for Chinese investors looking to access the European market," she added.

Feargal O'Rourke, managing partner of PwC Ireland, said that over a few years the Chinese footprint in Ireland has significantly expanded and now China is recognized as a major partner of Ireland.

"Last year the second biggest market for the export of our pork and dairy was China. China is the third largest market for our agri-business in total. This is a completely new development over the last decade," said O'Rourke.

As a global leading services firm, PwC is very happy to advise many Chinese companies that operate in Ireland as well as Irish companies that are expanding into China, said O'Rourke.