CORKMEET 2009 was well and truly underway on Thursday 12th November, as 400 participants took part in a lively programme of networking opportunities throughout the day at the Radisson Blu, Little Island, where they met, developed business links, and learned more about doing business nationally and internationally.
CORKMEET 2009, in association with the Irish Examiner, is offering the ideal opportunity for businesses to look beyond traditional promotional activities and make direct contact with potential Irish and international clients. Funded and organised by Trading Link Cork (a partnership for business between Cork County Council, Cork County and City Enterprise Boards and Cork Chamber), the event is providing a platform over the three days to network in organised forums that will enhance their networking opportunities.
CORKMEET 2009 is based on the internationally recognized business-to-business match-making forum Futurallia, which has successfully brought thousands of businesses together since its founding in 1990. At the core of the concept are a series of 30 minute, pre-arranged, one-to-one meetings that allow businesses to quickly connect and find common ground for trade and partnerships.
Registration opened at 8am on Thursday 12th, and at 9am Sean O’Sullivan, CEO of the South Cork Enterprise Board, launched the busy day of networking activities, which included the pre-arranged, one-to-one business meetings from 9.30am to 5pm. These one-to-one meetings were arranged when participants requested specific meetings with other participants through the online catalogue which participants were able to access since early November.
Maeve Bowen, CORKMEET 2009 Project Coordinator, said “We are delighted with the one-to-one meetings. It was a really busy day with a great buzz of activity, and the feedback we are receiving is excellent. It shows that companies on the ground want to keep networking and attracting new business, regardless of the economic climate.”
Brian Casserly, Managing Director of Irishackaging.com participated in the meetings sessions and following the event said “I have attended a number of these types of events abroad, and now it is fantastic to have an event of this scale, with all the opportunities that is presents, take place in Cork. I had a full meeting schedule today and have made some seriously good connections.”
Delegates had an average of 7 to 8 meetings throughout the day, with a total of 2,500 meetings taking place on Thursday. Sectors participating included: agri, bio, construction, craft, elect, energy, manufacturing, marine, print, promotional/ development agency, renewable energy, services, tourism, transport, and research/education.
Irish participants came from Cork, Clare, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Monaghan, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow; while there were international delegations from Wales, France, Romania, Slovakia and Poland.
The successful day of organised, formal networking was brought to a close at 5pm by Sean O’Sullivan.
For up to date information on CORKMEET 2009 visit www.corkmeet.ie.