Firms gather for debut Corkmeet

MORE than 300 companies have signed up for the first networking event of its kind in this country, which kicks off in Cork this week.

Corkmeet is a speed dating-type event for companies and it is expected to provide a major boost to the Cork economy. It has attracted companies from the US, Slovakia, Poland and Romania.

The event is funded and organised by Trading Link Cork, a partnership between Cork County Council, Cork County Enterprise Board, Cork City Enterprise Board and Cork Chamber. The Irish Examiner is the media partner of the event.

It will open on Wednesday and companies will conduct their one-to-one meetings on Thursday.

These meetings have been arranged with one participant requesting a meeting with another through the online catalogue which participants have been able to access since early November.

It is expected that there will be over 2,000 meetings throughout the day.

Economist David McWilliams is keynote speaker for the event, which will be opened by Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin.