Trade Connects 2026

Cost: Free

Opening Doors to developing the cross-border market for SMEs.

What is it?

This free half-day event, hosted in Belfast, will shine a spotlight on the evolving trade landscape and showcase future all-island trade opportunities to grow prosperity and drive economic growth.

With cross-border trade hitting a new high of £14.6/€17.24 billion, Trade Connects will explore the distinct opportunities to trade cross-border available in each respective market. 

Both events will be hosted by award-winning entrepreneur and broadcaster Áine Kerr. They’ll feature an expert panel focused on cross-border trade and market expansion, and attendees will have the chance to join specialist masterclasses providing insights into exporting and cross-border growth.

Delegates will also benefit from opportunities to engage with selected exhibitors to gain insights into the opportunities, support and resources available to help grow trade, collaboration and innovation.

Attend either of our Trade Connects events and you’ll get current advice and hands-on experience of navigating trade across the island, fuelling your ambition to embrace future growth opportunities and export success.

Who is it for?

Whether you’re new to exporting or already trading across the border and keen to expand, Trade Connects will provide the practical support, insights and connections to help your business grow.

What can your business expect to achieve from attending Trade Connects?

• Increased awareness of commercial growth opportunities on the island
• Confidence to explore the cross-border market as a first step to exporting
• Inspiration from successful business growth stories
• Better understanding of the business support ecosystem across the island
• Enhanced awareness of emerging AI and digital trends and their impact on productivity, operations, and future business success

Online event networking platform

Make the most of your Trade Connects experience with our online event networking platform. Before the event, you can create your profile, explore the programme and build your own personalised agenda.

On the morning of the event you can start to plan your networking - browse attendee profiles, arrange one-to-one meetings and connect with businesses from across the island of Ireland.

Whether you are seeking to identify new customers, explore cross-border partnerships, gain important insights or connect with industry experts, the platform will help you make the most of every networking opportunity. By setting up your profile and planning your schedule in advance, you'll be ready to maximise your time at Trade Connects and make meaningful business connections from the moment the conference opens.

Select "Yes" to the networking platform option when completing your registration to make the most of the networking opportunities available. We'll send you details closer to the event on how to set up your profile, connect with attendees and arrange meetings.

We reserve the right to cancel or amend the timings of our events at any point up to the stated start time of the event itself.

Delegates may also cancel their booking at any time by following the link in their confirmation email from InterTradeIreland or its representative Event Management Company.

Delegates are responsible for ensuring that they can access the web site information on the event on the intertradeireland.com website where it is updated regularly.

Delegates are also responsible for any all and any charges incurred during attendance at the event.

The delegate acknowledges that all event material, program material or copies thereof are and will remain the property of InterTradeIreland and are subject to copyright. It is expressly agreed that

neither the delegate nor their sponsoring organisation will copy the whole or any part of those materials without the written consent of InterTradeIreland.

InterTradeIreland accepts no responsibility whatsoever for the delegate or their sponsoring organisation as a result of their participation in the event and shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising to the delegate, their sponsoring organisation or any third parties howsoever that loss or damage arises (save that this provision will not exclude liability for death or personal injury arising from the negligence of the event provider).

No variation to these conditions shall be binding unless agreed in writing between the authorised representatives of the event provider and the delegate and/or their sponsoring organisation. The

delegate and their sponsoring organisation acknowledge that these terms and conditions supersede any written or verbal communication.