Martin heads trade delegation to US

ENTERPRISE Minister Micheál Martin heads an Enterprise Ireland delegation on a four-day visit to America that starts today.

The visit will take in the north-eastern cities of New York, Washington and Boston and aims to build trade links and highlight the success of Irish companies in the region.

The minister will meet with Irish companies that have used Enterprise Ireland support as a springboard to doing business with American partners. These include companies in the software, healthcare and consumer products sectors.

“There are enormous opportunities for increased trade growth between Ireland and the US,” said the minister. “My main aim during this visit is to promote the product and service capability of Irish companies and encourage collaborative business ventures between Ireland and the US.”

Mr Martin said Irish companies needed to make the American market a priority if they wanted to become strong global players, because of its importance as a base for innovation and leadership. “The United States is a key export market for clients of Enterprise Ireland,” he said. “It is a powerful global economy with strong links to Ireland.”

Ireland is the ninth largest exporter to the American market and sends goods and services worth $27 billion (€21 billion) across the Atlantic every year. Enterprise Ireland client companies accounted for $1.2 billion of the total.

The State business development body offers strategic and marketing assistance to Irish exporters targeting the American market and also markets Irish companies as potential suppliers to major American corporations such as aircraft giant Boeing and technology leaders Microsoft and Cisco Systems. It has offices in major cities on both the east and west coasts of the US, and a base in Silicon Valley.