1. Putting the workshop and importance of data in context Eoin Magennis InterTradeIreland

2. Introductory remarks… Why the All-Island Freight Forum? Economic, organisational and regulatory contexts The past is a different country…

3. Sales slow to make a comeback with the second half of 2010 proving hazardous…

4. Lag in any employment upturn… Weighted data Percentage point difference

5. Don’t know 0% 1% 0% Weighted data Base: unweighted /weighted % Higher levels of small firms more severely impacted by the downturn… Positive impact Moderate adverse impact Severe adverse impact No impact Overall Base: 1029 / 1029 50 or more employees Base: 110 / 28 11 to 49 employees Base: 229 / 96 10 or fewer employees Base: 690 / 905

6. Weighted data Base: unweighted /weighted % Which of the following best describes the current position of your business? Overall Base: 1029 / 1029 50 or more Base: 110 / 28 11 to 49 Base: 229/96 Growing/ expansion StabilisingReducing/ contraction Survival at All costs Winding down 10 or less Base: 690 / 905 Don’t know 1% 0% 1%

7. Decreased Net difference Increased -53% -54% -31% -87% -43% -61% -60% -32% Base: unweighted /weighted % The same picture varies greatly by sectors… Overall Base: 1029/ 1029 Agriculture Base: 55 / 57 Construction Base: 110 / 107 Leisure, hotels, catering Base: 161 / 165 Manufacturing Base: 89 / 77 Business services Base: 221 / 230 Retail, distribution Base: 272 / 278 Other services Base: 121 / 114

8. Weighted data Base: unweighted /weighted % Which of the following best describes the current position of your business? Overall Base: 1029 / 1029 Agriculture Base: 55 / 57 Construction Base: 110 / 107 Leisure, hotels, catering Base: 161 / 165 Manufacturing Base: 89 / 77 Business services Base: 221 / 230 Retail, distribution Base: 272 / 278 Other services Base: 121 / 114 Growing/ expansion Stabilising Reducing/ contraction Survival at All costs Winding down Don’t know 1% 4% 0%

9. Recovery in external trade in 2010 after several years of decline…

10. Falling levels of cross-border trade after a decade of growth…

11. Rise in the share of cross-border trade for construction-related goods and products to 2007…

12. …and a different story in the years since to 2009…

13. Challenges to business… % stating a ‘huge issue’ for their business 20102011 Q2Q3Q4Q1 Base1,0091,0291,1321,029 Cashflow and access to credit 28%27% 24% A reduction in demand for good and services 28% 27%26% Keeping up with innovation in the industry 12%10% Lack of appropriate skills in the workforce 4%3% Difficulty in recruiting appropriate skills in the workforce 5%6% 4% Rising energy/fuel costs 27% 33%41% Rising costs from other overheads 26%29%33%41% Business and consumer confidence 22%29%24%23% New competitors in your market 12% 11%13% Discounting by competitors 12%22%19%24% Current exchange rate between sterling and the euro 12%9%8%9% Late payments from customers 27%25% 22%

14. Other challenges for the freight industry… Restructuring of the industry Costs and pricing Regulatory environment – including carbon emissions Congestion issues Connectivity off the island