Eliminating economic and social barriers between the Republic and Northern Ireland could create 3,000 jobs, according to employers' organisation IBEC.
Synchronising professional qualifications, confronting cultural divisions, pushing for harmonisation of tax, wages, transport and housing costs and removing geographical barriers would also fuel cross-Border trade, which has already increased by more than 90 per cent in the past decade, IBEC president Mr Maurice Pratt said.
His comments followed a meeting yesterday of the Joint Business Council, involving 50 representatives of businesses from the Republic and Northern Ireland.
The council aims to reduce or eliminate 15 barriers to cross- Border mobility it has identified by the end of 2006.
A study by the EURES Cross Border Partnership concluded 3,000 new jobs could be created if such obstacles are overcome. A survey two years ago found 9,000 workers commuting across the Border, up 7,000 on 1996.
Britain's reluctance to join the euro zone is a particular source of concern for IBEC.
With exporters struggling to deal with a sharply strengthening euro and overheads climbing rapidly, the prospect of exchange rate volatility is impairing closer links with the North, the organisation believes.
Although there is some consolation in the fact that the British government has signalled it will return to the issue next year, it cannot be assumed its decision will be any different, the organisation said.
