Businesses from across Europe meet up for Cork networking event

MORE than 2,500 business meetings involving 307 companies took place in Cork this week in a novel networking event.

Corkmeet, the biggest networking event of its kind to be held in Ireland, saw 400 delegates descend on the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cork this week. As well as participants from all over Ireland, there were international delegations from Wales, France, Romania, Slovakia and Poland.

Managing director of Irishpackaging.com Brian Casserly said: “I have attended a number of these types of events abroad. And now it is fantastic to have an event of this scale, with all the opportunities that is presents, take place in Cork.”

Mr Casserly said he made some “seriously good connections” at the event.

The event, in association with the Irish Examiner, was based on the internationally recognised business-to-business match-making forum Futurallia, which has been in operation since in 1990.

It was funded and organised by Trading Link Cork, a partnership for business between Cork County Council, Cork County and City enterprise boards and Cork Chamber.

Organisers arranged 30 minute one-to-one meetings between the businesses throughout the day on Thursday.

Corkmeet project coordinator Maeve Bowen said: “We were delighted with the one-to-one meetings. It was a really busy day with a great buzz of activity, and the feedback we are receiving is excellent.

“It shows that companies on the ground want to keep networking and attracting new business, regardless of the economic climate.”

Delegates had an average of seven to eight meetings throughout the day, with a total of 2,500 meetings taking place on Thursday.

Sectors that participated included agri, bio, construction, manufacturing, tourism and transport.