Turnover generated by nearly 2,000 Irish companies using invoice finance reached €25.9 billion in 2015, up two per cent on the same figure for 2014, the Asset Based Finance Association (ABFA) annual conference will hear in Dublin this week.

This is the highest annual sales turnover figure registered for Irish companies using invoice finance since statistics for Ireland were first collated by the ABFA in 2002.

Approximately 250 delegates from the UK and Ireland will attend the conference, which will be moderated by BBC Radio 4 presenter John Humphrys.

Speakers lined up include ABFA chief executive Jeff Longhurst, Irish Exporters Association chief executive Simon McKeever, Talking Social Media director Miranda Bishop, Rear Admiral Chris Parry CBE and Alix partners cyber-director Jon Rigby.

Mr Parry and Mr Rigby will focus on cybercrime, emerging threats and risks in the virtual space and how to protect a business from such attacks.

Trade relations

Mr McKeever will speak about trade relations between the UK, Ireland and the EU, as well as the potential implications for exporters in the face of Brexit.

Ms Bishop will outline how social media and online marketing can be utilised to support a business.