At the Chamber AGM Paddy Malone was re-elected President. Paddy Matthews was elected Vice President and Michael Farrell Treasurer.
Other members of the Management committee elected were, Declan Murphy, Francis Murphy and Jimmy Cumiskey. There will be additions to this later and at last one female will join.
Paddy noted that the Chamber had a good working relationship with others including the County and Town Councils, IDA, Enterprise Ireland the County Enterprise Board. The Chamber has shown itself to be committed to the Louth Economic Forum.
The Chamber is also working well with other including Newry Chamber and believes that Ireland’s Presidency of Europe from 1st January offers the opportunity of implementing the Economic Zone.
The Chamber has worked well with BIDS office including the St. Patrick’s Day parade which was a bigger day than ever. Other joint projects included Town Watch, Christmas parade and tourism initiatives.
The Chamber ran very successful budget breakfast, conferences on energy and tourism, the Louth Business awards and fundraising events in conjunction with Alzheimer/Birches (Boxing) and 2 strictly come dancing with Netwell and Rape Crisis North East. We also ran monthly meetings with various embassies. The Chamber has run a number of job fairs with EURES and also with Interreg.
THE b2b business network continued throughout 2011. The Chamber was to the fore nationally in its campaign against VAT rises. We will continue to call for a reduction in all business taxes including rates.
Events in the future include (a) the Super Saver scheme with BIDS, (b) a new link between local accountancy firms and DKIT to assist Micro business which will be replicated elsewhere in the Country, (c) the completion of the Louth economic Forum, (d) a new supply buy network with Northern Ireland and Scottish Chambers.
Paddy indicated that a major priority will be to build stronger relations with the Ardee and Carlingford areas and to keep membership costs down. It is hoped that after no increase in this area for 4 years we will decrease it next year.
