A one-day Enterprise Ireland Irish Trade Mission to London is being led by the Minister for Enterprise Micheál Martin.

The mission is aimed at ensuring Irish businesses are ready to benefit from opportunities surrounding the 2012 Olympics.

The Minister will be holding talks with the Olympic Delivery Authority at the Canary Wharf HQ in London. He will also visit the site of the Olympic Village in East London.

"We have expertise in a large range of areas, which I believe will be of great assistance to London as it prepares to host the largest sporting event on earth," Minister Martin said, speaking ahead of his visit. "Whether it is in large scale construction, the provision of IT, the manufacture of Olympic merchandise or the provision of transport Irish business is in a position to provide enormous support to our nearest neighbour."

-- Advertisement --

Around 12,000 people are thought to be involved in the construction and staffing of the Olympic Park. Also, more than 9,000 homes will be built in East London to accommodate athletes, and these will be used as affordable homes after the Olympics.

The Minister has also haled the scale of the project, describing it as a "huge opportunity for Irish construction."

"As the Olympic Delivery Authority begins to roll out contracts for a large range of projects associated with the games, it is important that our businesses are ready to compete with firms across the globe and win," he said.

Enterprise Ireland has set out a target of securing half a billion of the €12.9 billion that building contracts in London will spend between now and the commencement of the games.

In two weeks time the Minister will attend a special information conference in Dublin for Enterprise Ireland to set out the opportunities available to offer Irish firms.

(JM)