IBECCBI Joint Business Council

1
IBEC-CBI Joint Business Council

• Presentation to the Joint Committee on the
  Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement

2
About the JBC

• Established in 1991
• Different political, economic and social
  circumstances
• Trade and business development opportunities
  between SMEs North and South of the border and
  SMEs and multinationals
• Focus on North-South cooperation in business
  development as a policy priority
• 1999 Intertrade Ireland and other all-island
  bodies were formed
• 2002 2006 Focus on developing and sustaining
  cross border business cooperation within the
  island of Ireland and addressing international
  competitiveness
• New work programme 2007 - 2013

3
Mission of the JBC

• To be the voice of business on the island of
  Ireland working in collaboration with its members
  and strategic partners to sustain and develop
  economic co-operation and advance international
  competitiveness

4
Current role of JBC

• A single business voice for the island of Ireland
  in policy formulation
• A challenge function to public sector policy
• A high-level all-island business network
• Strategic leadership on global business and
  competitiveness issues
• Strengthen East-West linkages
• Facilitate development of partnerships between
  SMEs north and south

5
Key areas of action

• Advocacy and lobbying
• Communication
• Networking
• Collaboration
• Thought leadership

6
JBC work programme
JBC Programme Funded under INTERREG IVa
2007-2013 Theme 1 People issues, including
skills, training and education, employment,
social cohesion and labour mobility Theme 2
All island infrastructure including
infrastructure accessibility, logistics, supply
chain, enhancement of the environment, energy and
telecommunications Theme 3 Innovation,
technology, entrepreneurship (including social
entrepreneurship) and Research and
Development Cross cutting theme Partnership and
network development
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JBC initiatives

• All-island electricity and Energy including
  renewables
• Strategic freight study, All island freight forum
• Roads infrastructure, particularly East-West
• North South masters bursaries
• Cross border project promoting enterprise in
  schools ICT Platform
• Linking all-island renewables research centres
• Building Economic and Trade co-operation with
  Scotland British Irish Council

8
Key Partners

• SEUPB
• NSMC
• INTERTRADE IRELAND
• BORDER EAST, Newry (and other LA Cross Border
  Groups)
• CENTRE FOR CROSS BORDER STUDIES
• DUMFRIES GALLOWAY COUNCIL
• BOSTON COLLEGE, Centre for Irish Studies

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Key Challenges

• Building more dynamic, competitive regional
  economies
• Overcoming institutional complacency and
  fragmentation
• Defeating the prevailing partitionist mindset
  across borders
• Unlocking entrepreneurial potential particularly
  among the young
• Building a more dynamic inclusive business voice
  on the island, particular focus on start-ups and
  SMEs
• Focus on Border Region while recognising economic
  impact of world class cities

10
JBC Programme Launch Event

• THURSDAY 2 JULY 2009
• CITY HOTEL ARMAGH
• 16.00 SME FORUM
• 1800 RECEPTION FOR JBC PARTNERS GUESTS
• GUEST OF HONOUR CONOR MURPHY MLA, MINISTER FOR
  REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

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Contact details

• IBEC
• Confederation House
• 84-86 Lower Baggot Street
• Dublin 2
• Tel [phone]
• Fax [phone]

• CBI Northern IrelandScottish Amicable
  Building11 Donegall SquareBelfast BT1 5JETel
  44 (0) 28 90 101100Fax [phone]

• http//www.jointbusinesscouncil.com