EDF BARRIERS TO EXPORT Sub-Committee Formation

Planning meeting on MOnday 23 March 2009

Minutes

Present
Bill McGinnis (NI Exporters Association)
Ann McGregor (NICC)
Sandra Beattie (NICC)

 

1.0        Background TO MEETING
During a review of EDF in June 2008, the Centre for Competiveness proposed that the EDF consider NI Exports having identified the following key issues:

  1. inherent problem in overcoming the barriers to export, including the lack of desire to export by our SME's / Manufacturing & Service companies;
  2. the range of products or the product portfolio that international markets want / need; and
  3. the need for a study to examine the impact that various barriers to export have on the export marketing performance of NI. 

The EDF Secretariat added the item to the EDF agenda in February 2009 and commissioned the preparation of a short paper in liaison with Invest NI and DETI where necessary, examining these issues. Following discussions with the Centre for Competiveness and colleagues from the Business Alliance, the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce agreed to lead on the development of the paper.  See Annex 1 for copy of Barriers to Export Paper.

Following the presentation of the paper at the EDF it was agreed to establish a subcommittee, chaired by Bill McGinnis with NICC as secretariat to further explore the issue and report back to the EDF on 12 June 2009.

            It was agreed that Committee membership should include representation from the Business Alliance, DETI, Invest             NI, NI    Exporters Association, SME representatives and local authority representatives. The sub-committee will liaise with other EDF colleagues by email.
           
2.0        Aim of meeting
This was a planning meeting to discuss:

  1. Membership of the sub-committee.
  2. Review the terms of reference of the group.
  3. Agree actions required to address terms of reference.
  4. Agree time table to implement actions required.

 

  1. Membership of suB-committee (TBC)

      Business Alliance          Ann McGregor (NICC)
      DETI                             Graeme Hutchinson
      Invest NI                       Rotha Johnston, Alan Hingston/Maurice Patterson/John McKenna
      Local Authorities            Liam Hannaway
      NI Exporters                  Bill McGinnis (Chair)
      SMES                           Patricia O’Hagan, Core Systems
                                          Ger Connery, Sentel
      Business                      Mark Nodder, Wrightbus
                                          Keith McCracken, Perfecseal
                                          Tony Convery, CDE
                                          Sam Butler

 

  1.       TERMS OF REFERENCE

      The sub-committee will:

  1. Prioritise barriers to export.
  2. Identify approximately 6 key actions to address these barriers (to include specific actions to address the tradeable services sector (including public procurement opportunities in Europe).
  3. Report back to the EDF by 12 June 2009.

 

  1.       ACTION PLAN & TIME LINE

DATE

ACTION

Lead

w/c 23 March 2009
  1. Update EDF
  2. Contact sub-committee members
  3. Confirm participation
  4. Circulate background note

NICCC/AMcGregor

w/c 30 March 2009
  1. Prepare for sub-committee meeting
  2. Liaise with Business Alliance to agree participation in survey and survey process.
  3. Circulate papers which will include:
  4. Agenda
  5. Background brief
  6. Draft survey to identify top three barriers to address for review
  7. Information on best practice in other regions

NICC/ SBeattie/AMcG/ Bill McGinnis

8 April 2009

Sub-committee meeting

Bill McGinnis

 

DATE

ACTION

Lead

9 April 2009

Follow up actions

  1. Circulate survey via Business Alliance
  2. Further best practice analysis
  3. Further consultation as identified.

NICC/SB

Ongoing until 1 May 2009

Best practice research

NICC/Sam Butler

w/c 13 April 2009

Survey Management

  1. Ongoing survey response monitoring
  2. Second call for responses

NICC/Graduate

27 April 2009

Closing date for responses

 

28/29 April 2009

Response analysis

NICC/Graduate

1 May 2009

Reports

  1. Report on findings of survey
  2. Identify actions to address priorities identified

NICC/ Sam Butler

1 May 2009

Circulate to sub-committee for consideration, review and comment.

All

w/c 4 May 2009

Prepare for sub-committee meeting

  1. Agenda
  2. Draft action plan

NICC/Chair

20 May 2009

Sub-committee meeting

  1. Action plan agreed
  2. Presentation to EDF agreed

All

2 June 2009

Draft paper to EDF Secretariate for circulation

 

12 June 2009

EDF Meeting

Bill McGinnis
Ann McGregor