Enterprise Ireland has announced that it is set to host 48 trade events across 17 countries over the St Patrick’s Day period.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, An Tánaiste, Micheál Martin, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney, and other government ministers will join Enterprise Ireland CEO Leo Clancy in leading a series of events with Enterprise Ireland clients and international partners across the US, Europe, UK, IMEA and Asia-Pacific regions.
Enterprise Ireland CEO Clancy said, “Enterprise Ireland client companies are playing a vital role in enabling innovation and productivity in a range of cutting-edge industries across the globe.
“We’re enormously proud to play an active role in the historic growth of Irish companies’ footprint worldwide, and we are delighted to be visiting some of these dynamic companies this week.
“As we prepare for St Patrick’s Day, it’s an excellent time to celebrate the achievements of Irish trade and focus on our committed ambition for expansion and growth.”
US And Europe
Taoiseach Varadkar will meet with two Enterprise Ireland client companies in Washington, DC: Manna Drone Delivery and IrishEyes TV, which will, for the first time, be streaming a live feed of St Patrick’s Day events from around the world.
The Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Peter Burke, will visit Enterprise Ireland’s first-ever Irish Pavilion at Cosmoprof, a B2B beauty event in Bologna, Italy, on 16 March.
Eight Irish skincare companies will be exhibiting at the Irish Pavilion, which gives them the opportunity to position themselves in front of buyers and their best-in-class counterparts in Europe.
Australia And New Zealand
Leading the trade mission to Australia, Minister Simon Coveney will also welcome the significant growth of Irish exports therein, while Minister Charlie McConalogue will travel to New Zealand to mark the strong agri-business relations between both countries.
Exports by Enterprise Ireland client companies in the Australian market increased by 28%, to over €300 million, in 2021 – an increase of €66 million on the previous year, and the biggest increase across the region.
Total exports to the Australian and New Zealand markets from Ireland were worth almost €350 million in 2021.
Commenting on the trade mission to Australia, Minister Coveney said, “Australia is the second-largest export market for Enterprise Ireland clients in [Asia-Pacific].
“In 2021 and 2022, 63 Enterprise Ireland clients established a new presence in Australia, highlighting the bounce-back of Irish companies post-Covid-19, and the increasing importance of the Australian market for Irish companies.”
High Demand
Enterprise Ireland highlighted that demand for Irish innovation is at an all-time high.
In 2021, exports by companies supported by Enterprise Ireland increased by 12%, to a record €27.29 billion.
This is the highest-ever level of growth for Enterprise Ireland-backed companies in export value, and strong increases were experienced across almost all sectors in 2021, the group added.
© 2023 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. For more A-brand news, click here. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.
