Cross Border Ties Strengthened Ahead of Brexit

    Business groups Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber) and Dublin Chamber recently welcomed the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at a joint meeting in Belfast.

    The two Chambers arranged the meeting of their senior representatives to discuss the implications of Brexit for both economies. Over a dozen business leaders from the two Chambers were joined at the private meeting by the Taoiseach.

    Ann McGregor, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: “Businesses in Northern Ireland are rightly concerned about the future of north south relationships including all-island trade, integration of our labour markets, the all-island energy market and the damaging impact a no-deal exit could have on export sales.

    Pictured L-R: Ann McGregor (Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry); Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Niall Gibbons (President, Dublin Chamber) and Mary Rose Burke (Chief Executive, Dublin Chamber).

    “A messy and disorderly Brexit on 31 October would cause widespread damage to businesses and communities across the country.”

    Dublin Chamber CEO Mary Rose Burke said: “Regardless of Brexit, the business communities North and South of the border are fully committed to closer economic cooperation across the island of Ireland, and to furthering the high level of integration that already exists. The free movement of goods across the border has been part of the economic architecture of this island for generations. Cross border trade has been on an upward trajectory for decades now, with total trade standing at €7 billion as of 2017. The business communities on both sides of the border will work hard to maintain this positive momentum in the face of the challenges ahead.”