The Minister for Defence Mr Tony Killeen TD last night launched the Mid-West Regional Business Week in the Woodlands House Hotel in Adare.
The Mid -West Regional Business Week 2010 is taking place from October 18th-22nd, across the geographical areas administered by the 5 County and City Enterprise Boards in the Mid-West Region including Kerry.
The County and City Enterprise Boards in Limerick, City, Limerick County, Kerry, Clare and Tipperary North in collaboration with Enterprise Ireland and other enterprise support agencies are hosting 26 events during the week for people already established in business or wanting to start up.
The aim of Business Week is to help inform, advise and motivate businesses and potential entrepreneurs across the general Mid-West Region. It is the largest enterprise initiative of its kind in the Region.
Speaking at the launch Minister Killeen said: "The Government is acutely aware that entrepreneurship and the growth and development of small Irish businesses, is central to economic recovery in the current economic climate. The Taoiseach, together with my Colleague, Minister Batt O’Keeffe, have only last Thursday announced an additional tranche of €3.3m capital funding to be spent this year by the Enterprise Boards.”
The County and City Enterprise Boards play a key role in promoting business development. In 17 years of existence in the Mid-West Region, the local CEBs have collectively passed a landmark of 50,000 people having availed of their business-focused range of programmes. In the Mid-West Region their priorities for 2010 are to support owner-managers in enhancing the survival and sustainability of their businesses and to assist people wishing to start their own business, including those made redundant.
“While direct grant aid is provided to match own investment by businesses and project promoters, the provision of a range of other important business supports such as mentoring, business training and advice is equally if not more valuable in sustaining and growing that investment. I would therefore encourage all businesses to keep in contact with their local Enterprise Board, so that they can determine what supports they may best offer to your individual enterprise.
"There are, of course, a range of other supports available through the State Agencies from which small- and medium-sized enterprise can benefit. The Government has provided financial support under the Employment Subsidy Scheme and the Enterprise Stabilisation Fund under which viable enterprises can sustain employment in the current economic climate. The Government is consistently supporting the Enterprise agencies to attract Foreign Investment and support indigenous Irish enterprise. In the first 6 months of this year, IDA and EI have made over 50 jobs announcements, which will lead to the creation of over 4,000 jobs, spread around the country”, added the Minister.
Commenting on the availability of credit for small business Minister Killeen said: "The Government has introduced a number of initiatives to improve the availability of credit to the small business sector. The whole aim of Government policy on Banking has been to return the commercial banks to a position where they can access funds and lend on to viable businesses and support economic growth and recovery. The Government has taken decisive action in order to get credit flowing again."
"The Bank Guarantee Scheme, the 2009 and 2010 Recapitalisation Schemes, the nationalisation of Anglo Irish Banks and the establishment of the National Assets Management Agency are the building blocks for the stabilisation of the Banking sector. These are designed to facilitate the renewed flow of credit to enterprise.
"AIB and Bank of Ireland have both committed to making available not less than €3 billion each for new or increased credit facilities to SME’s in both 2010 and 2011. This must include funds for working capital for businesses. The message from the two main banks is that they are open for business and available to provide credit to viable businesses. The Credit Review Office is examining credit policies and practices of the banks, particularly for SME’s. The Office can also review cases where credit has been refused to viable companies. The Government wants to see the banks acting responsibly and in the best interests of small businesses so that jobs can be created in the domestic economy to advance our national recovery," concluded Minister Killeen.
Concluding Minister Killeen said "There is no substitute for a good business idea, some energy and enthusiasm and above all, support from your friends whether they be in the State Agencies or among your investors. I hope the next few days will be of assistance to local businesses and potential entrepreneurs and I wish you all every success."
In a series of 26 events to be held in the week of 18th to 22nd October at various locations in the 5 Counties and City in the Midwest Region, the following organisations will host or stage information, showcase and advisory sessions aimed at the small enterprise sector: FAS, Udaras na Gaeltachta(West Kerry), Patents Office, Shannon Development , Paul Partnership Limerick , Leader Groups- Kerry, Clare , Limerick-Clare Energy Business Association and some personalities and motivational speakers
The full schedule of events for the Mid-West Regional Business Week can be viewed on www.regionalbusinessweek.com.
The Mid -West Regional Business Week 2010 is taking place from October 18th-22nd, across the geographical areas administered by the 5 County and City Enterprise Boards in the Mid-West Region including Kerry.
The County and City Enterprise Boards in Limerick, City, Limerick County, Kerry, Clare and Tipperary North in collaboration with Enterprise Ireland and other enterprise support agencies are hosting 26 events during the week for people already established in business or wanting to start up.
The aim of Business Week is to help inform, advise and motivate businesses and potential entrepreneurs across the general Mid-West Region. It is the largest enterprise initiative of its kind in the Region.
Speaking at the launch Minister Killeen said: "The Government is acutely aware that entrepreneurship and the growth and development of small Irish businesses, is central to economic recovery in the current economic climate. The Taoiseach, together with my Colleague, Minister Batt O’Keeffe, have only last Thursday announced an additional tranche of €3.3m capital funding to be spent this year by the Enterprise Boards.”
The County and City Enterprise Boards play a key role in promoting business development. In 17 years of existence in the Mid-West Region, the local CEBs have collectively passed a landmark of 50,000 people having availed of their business-focused range of programmes. In the Mid-West Region their priorities for 2010 are to support owner-managers in enhancing the survival and sustainability of their businesses and to assist people wishing to start their own business, including those made redundant.
“While direct grant aid is provided to match own investment by businesses and project promoters, the provision of a range of other important business supports such as mentoring, business training and advice is equally if not more valuable in sustaining and growing that investment. I would therefore encourage all businesses to keep in contact with their local Enterprise Board, so that they can determine what supports they may best offer to your individual enterprise.
"There are, of course, a range of other supports available through the State Agencies from which small- and medium-sized enterprise can benefit. The Government has provided financial support under the Employment Subsidy Scheme and the Enterprise Stabilisation Fund under which viable enterprises can sustain employment in the current economic climate. The Government is consistently supporting the Enterprise agencies to attract Foreign Investment and support indigenous Irish enterprise. In the first 6 months of this year, IDA and EI have made over 50 jobs announcements, which will lead to the creation of over 4,000 jobs, spread around the country”, added the Minister.
Commenting on the availability of credit for small business Minister Killeen said: "The Government has introduced a number of initiatives to improve the availability of credit to the small business sector. The whole aim of Government policy on Banking has been to return the commercial banks to a position where they can access funds and lend on to viable businesses and support economic growth and recovery. The Government has taken decisive action in order to get credit flowing again."
"The Bank Guarantee Scheme, the 2009 and 2010 Recapitalisation Schemes, the nationalisation of Anglo Irish Banks and the establishment of the National Assets Management Agency are the building blocks for the stabilisation of the Banking sector. These are designed to facilitate the renewed flow of credit to enterprise.
"AIB and Bank of Ireland have both committed to making available not less than €3 billion each for new or increased credit facilities to SME’s in both 2010 and 2011. This must include funds for working capital for businesses. The message from the two main banks is that they are open for business and available to provide credit to viable businesses. The Credit Review Office is examining credit policies and practices of the banks, particularly for SME’s. The Office can also review cases where credit has been refused to viable companies. The Government wants to see the banks acting responsibly and in the best interests of small businesses so that jobs can be created in the domestic economy to advance our national recovery," concluded Minister Killeen.
Concluding Minister Killeen said "There is no substitute for a good business idea, some energy and enthusiasm and above all, support from your friends whether they be in the State Agencies or among your investors. I hope the next few days will be of assistance to local businesses and potential entrepreneurs and I wish you all every success."
In a series of 26 events to be held in the week of 18th to 22nd October at various locations in the 5 Counties and City in the Midwest Region, the following organisations will host or stage information, showcase and advisory sessions aimed at the small enterprise sector: FAS, Udaras na Gaeltachta(West Kerry), Patents Office, Shannon Development , Paul Partnership Limerick , Leader Groups- Kerry, Clare , Limerick-Clare Energy Business Association and some personalities and motivational speakers
The full schedule of events for the Mid-West Regional Business Week can be viewed on www.regionalbusinessweek.com.
