Stage 1 – Is Asia for me?

Asia offers a wealth of exciting opportunities for many types of Irish business. But is exporting to Asia for you? ‘First Flight Asia’ was launched in September 2005, with a  seminar designed to explore some of the issues involved in exporting to Asia, and to consider whether Asia presents an opportunity for your business, and how to avoid costly mistakes.

Stage 2 – Which Market is for me?

Markets in Asia are vast and diverse. Enterprise Ireland has identified four key markets which present opportunities for Irish businesses: China, Korea, India, Japan. Enterprise Ireland has published a guide to doing business in  each of these markets, to help you to determine if the market is appropriate for your business.

Stage 3 – Am I Ready?

So you see the potential of exporting, but is your business ready for Asia? Or do you need to do some internal work on your business before embarking on an export action plan? This stage of ‘First Flight Asia’ is a self-assessment process, designed to help you determine your market readiness. If you require it, we can provide a mentor with international experience to guide you through this process.

Stage 4 – what are the opportunities?

There are plenty of opportunities in Asia, but where are the opportunities in your business sector? During this stage you will gain a more detailed knowledge of your chosen market and specific industry sector. Based on the demand, following stage 3, a series of initiatives will be designed to deliver in-depth knowledge of a range of industry sectors. These will range from workshops/seminars with market experts, market study visits or more individual consultancy as demand requires.

Stage 5 – What Results am I looking for?

By now you have identified the opportunities for your business and developed you export action plan.  It’s all systems go. But how do you get those first crucial reference sales in Asia? You may need an introduction to a buyer, or a door opened into a potential customer. Enterprise Ireland’s network of offices in Asia will be there to help you in the critical first year, with access to experienced international business people who know your target markets.