USEFUL BUSINESS INFORMATION ON IRELAND

1. Country Brief:

A. Introduction - Ireland is situated in the Atlantic Ocean and separated from Great Britain by the Irish Sea. Half the size of Arkansas, it occupies the entire island except for the six counties that make up Northern Ireland. Ireland resembles a basin—a central plain rimmed with mountains, except in the Dublin region. The mountains are low, with the highest peak, Carrantuohill in County Kerry, rising to 3,415 ft (1,041 m). The principal river is the Shannon, which begins in the north-central area, flows south and southwest for about 240 mi (386 km), and empties into the Atlantic.

B. Climate - Ireland has a temperate climate and is cold and damp much of the year. Summer (May to September) is the warmest and driest season and is the best time to visit, though attractions can get crowded in July and August. Winter is characterised by short, wet, foggy days and long night, but the temperature rarely gets below freezing due to the tempering Gulf Stream winds that buffet the west coast of Ireland. Some attractions are only open in summer.

C. Geographical Area - Land area: 26,598 sq mi (68,889 sq km); total area: 27,135 sq mi (70,280 sq km)

D. Language - English, Irish (Gaelic) (both official)

E. Currency With Exchange Rate – Euro

1.00 EUR = 1.40943 USD

F. Population - approximately 6 million (as of 2007)

G. Major Cities – Cork, Limerick, Galway

2. Transportation:

A. Railway - total: 3,312 km (2004).

B. Road - total: 95,736 km; paved: 95,736 km (including 125 km of expressways); unpaved: 0 km (2002).

C. Airports - 36 (2004 est.).

D. Waterways - 753 km

E. Sea ports - Cork, Dublin, New Ross, Shannon Foynes, Waterford.

3. Economy:

A. Major Manufacturing - 

B. Major Export - $102 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; live animals, animal products.

C. Major Import - $65.47 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): data processing equipment, other machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products, textiles, clothing.

E. Major Industry - steel, lead, zinc, silver, aluminum, barite, and gypsum mining processing; food products, brewing, textiles, clothing; chemicals, pharmaceuticals; machinery, rail transportation equipment, passenger and commercial vehicles, ship construction and refurbishment; glass and crystal; software, tourism.

F. Trade balance -

4. Trade Associations, Chamber of Commerce, Trade shows and Exhibitions in Ireland:

Major Trade Associations

Chambers of Commerce

Dublin Chamber of Commerce

Website: www.dubchamber.ie

Major Trade Shows

5. Useful links:

Ireland Importers, Dealers of Japanese Used Cars, Construction Machinery & Auto Parts