Ireland does not intend to bet everything on its national emblem - the clover, supposed to bring good luck - to face the Brexit which, after having been rejected three times, will take place this Friday. Despite green economic indicators - 4.2% growth rate, unemployment considered to be zero -, the country fears the impact of a Brexit without agreement which "could be more important than the financial crisis", has put in says John McGrane, director of the British-Irish Chamber of Commerce.
According to the Economic and Social Research Institute, an un-negotiated exit from the United Kingdom would cause a loss of 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) for Ireland, half of which by 2020. To escape this catastrophic scenario, the Ireland is looking today… from the French side!
Nearly fifteen establishments in France per year
About 500 Irish companies are exporting to France, strongly encouraged by Enterprise Ireland, the Irish government's development agency, to accelerate the movement. "Geographically, France is the country in the European Union closest to us and it is a market of 65 million consumers, like the United Kingdom," explains Sinead Lonergan, director of the French office of Enterprise Ireland .
To achieve this objective, Enterprise Ireland has strengthened its Paris office and has just opened a second office in Lyon (Rhône). The Irish Agency also does not hesitate to put its hand in the pocket to financially support companies wishing to open up the tricolor market. The results are there: exports are increasing. “And, in addition, around fifteen Irish companies now set up in French territory each year, whether it be a takeover, the creation of a subsidiary or the opening of an office for sale, says Sinead Lonergan. But we can still progress. "
Campsited.com, a platform for booking camping nights, has just launched the French version of its site. "11% of French campsites are referenced," says Finan O'Donoghue, the founding CEO. "But we are going to develop further, because the tricolor market is fundamental for us". Via a partner in France, Campsited.com actively approaches French campsites. And the start-up will welcome in a few months "two students from the Leonardo da Vinci university pole to accelerate its market conquest and perfect its French culture".
Irelands Eye sweaters very present in Brittany
Same ambition for Irelands Eye, a family-run SME manufacturing traditional woolen sweaters. With the support of Enterprise Ireland, the company has just improved its production tool to boost its exports. "Today, the company is growing and our sales in France are contributing to these good results," said Kate O'Sullivan, marketing manager. The young woman is following a program at the University of Dublin to further refine her commercial strategy: “We are very present in Brittany, via the Irish counters and the Sea counters, but we want to boost our distribution. We want to compete better with Saint James ”, the French brand of sweaters and stripes.
Threatened by Brexit, "Ireland is reinventing itself", assures Declan. Like 10% of the country's active population, it is employed by "a large multinational", which Ireland has made a specialty of attracting with a very low corporate tax rate. The quadra sees in Brexit the opportunity to change its reputation: "Our country is not just a magnet for GAFA (Editor's note: the American digital giants, Google, Apple, etc.) , our start-ups and our SMEs are dynamic, they will show you! », He swears, slamming his Guinness on the counter.
