Burke returns from successful US trade mission
The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke TD, has returned from a busy trade mission in the US, visiting the west coast cities of Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and Seattle.
Working closely with partners in IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, the purpose of Minister Burke’s mission was to support Irish companies wishing to widen their US markets and earn new business, as well as to meet US companies thinking of expanding or establishing Irish operations.
During the mission, Minister Burke met with representatives from some of the world’s largest multinational companies, such as Apple, Amazon, Netflix, OpenAI, Microsoft and Dexcom.
“It was my pleasure to bring a number of Irish businesses to the US last week, helping them build connections that will allow them to expand into the US market, establish new business, and increase foreign direct investment,” commented Minister Burke.
“I held meetings with some of the world’s largest companies, including the likes of Apple, Amazon and Netflix, to share the benefits of establishing and expanding operations in Ireland, including highlighting our educated workforce and our strong, decades-long reputation as a pro-enterprise nation.
“It was also fantastic to meet some local faces such as Tony Donoghue from Athlone, now a Senior VP with Walmart, and Tommy Newman from Kilbeggan, now working in California, both of whom are brilliant representatives for Westmeath over in the US.”
“I have seen first-hand the impact of such trade missions, after a number of meetings in the East Coast earlier this year, some of the target companies I met with have since made significant announcements into Ireland.
“While FDI is important to Ireland, the knock-on impact on our SMEs and our local economy is even more critical for me. I recently visited a family-run print shop in rural Ireland, whose main customer is a pharmaceutical company as they print all the labels and health information for inside the packets of drugs. These symbiotic relationships are replicated throughout the country."