Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke TD embarked on an IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland trade and investment mission to the West Coast of the US today.
Minister Burke is accompanied by IDA Ireland CEO Michael Lohan and Enterprise Ireland’s America’s Regional Director Aidan McKenna. Over the course of the week, as part of the joint mission, the Minister will meet with some of IDA’s largest clients in the technology and Fintech sectors.
The U.S. is Ireland’s largest source of FDI, with over 900 operations employing more than 210,000 people equating to almost 10% of Ireland’s workforce. US West Coast clients in Ireland account for 275 operations and employ 67,000 people across the leading innovation sectors of technology, Lifesciences, FinTech and Engineering.
As part of the mission, Minister Burke will also officially open IDA Ireland’s new Palo Alto office marking the agency’s recent relocation within Silicon Valley - one of the world’s most dynamic innovation hubs.
Minister Burke said: “The trade mission provides an opportunity for me to engage directly with U.S. companies, both IDA clients and prospective investors, and exchange views on the current business and trade landscape, while focusing on key growth opportunities. The scale of bilateral FDI investment highlights the depth of the economic ties between both countries and the continued partnership and commitment by US companies in Ireland”.
Commenting on the investment mission, Michael Lohan, CEO, IDA Ireland said: "This week is about deepening our relationships at the highest levels and discussing Ireland’s many advantages across talent, track record and access to the European market. As part of this trade mission, we will be meeting with clients to strengthen our ongoing partnerships in support of their international expansion and operations.
Competition for foreign investment has never been as intense and trade missions serve to increase awareness of Ireland’s attractiveness as a place to invest. IDA Ireland’s strategy, Adapt Intelligently: A Strategy for Sustainable Growth and Innovation 2025-29 is focused on strengthening long-term investment, scaling cutting edge innovation, driving sustainable change and maximising regional growth. I look forward to discussing and sharing perspectives on the global investment landscape and Ireland’s proposition to enable and support ongoing international investment opportunities.”
Aidan McKenna, Regional Director, Enterprise Ireland commented: “Despite the new Us-EU trade tariffs on goods, the US is and will continue to be an important primary export market for many Irish exporters. Enterprise Ireland client companies are scaling rapidly in the USA, which is now the second largest export country for client exports, with €6.6bn exports in 2024. The trade mission this week will look to further support Enterprise Ireland clients to scale in the market, particularly in the tech sector, which holds strong growth potential for our client companies, as the number 1 market for Irish technology and service exports.”
Minister Burke is accompanied by IDA Ireland CEO Michael Lohan and Enterprise Ireland’s America’s Regional Director Aidan McKenna. Over the course of the week, as part of the joint mission, the Minister will meet with some of IDA’s largest clients in the technology and Fintech sectors.
The U.S. is Ireland’s largest source of FDI, with over 900 operations employing more than 210,000 people equating to almost 10% of Ireland’s workforce. US West Coast clients in Ireland account for 275 operations and employ 67,000 people across the leading innovation sectors of technology, Lifesciences, FinTech and Engineering.
As part of the mission, Minister Burke will also officially open IDA Ireland’s new Palo Alto office marking the agency’s recent relocation within Silicon Valley - one of the world’s most dynamic innovation hubs.
Minister Burke said: “The trade mission provides an opportunity for me to engage directly with U.S. companies, both IDA clients and prospective investors, and exchange views on the current business and trade landscape, while focusing on key growth opportunities. The scale of bilateral FDI investment highlights the depth of the economic ties between both countries and the continued partnership and commitment by US companies in Ireland”.
Commenting on the investment mission, Michael Lohan, CEO, IDA Ireland said: "This week is about deepening our relationships at the highest levels and discussing Ireland’s many advantages across talent, track record and access to the European market. As part of this trade mission, we will be meeting with clients to strengthen our ongoing partnerships in support of their international expansion and operations.
Competition for foreign investment has never been as intense and trade missions serve to increase awareness of Ireland’s attractiveness as a place to invest. IDA Ireland’s strategy, Adapt Intelligently: A Strategy for Sustainable Growth and Innovation 2025-29 is focused on strengthening long-term investment, scaling cutting edge innovation, driving sustainable change and maximising regional growth. I look forward to discussing and sharing perspectives on the global investment landscape and Ireland’s proposition to enable and support ongoing international investment opportunities.”
Aidan McKenna, Regional Director, Enterprise Ireland commented: “Despite the new Us-EU trade tariffs on goods, the US is and will continue to be an important primary export market for many Irish exporters. Enterprise Ireland client companies are scaling rapidly in the USA, which is now the second largest export country for client exports, with €6.6bn exports in 2024. The trade mission this week will look to further support Enterprise Ireland clients to scale in the market, particularly in the tech sector, which holds strong growth potential for our client companies, as the number 1 market for Irish technology and service exports.”
