City to send delegation to Silicon Valley in search of investment

The Taoiseach may have wooed the Chinese entrepreneurial dragon, but a high-powered delegation from Cork is turning to the opposite side of the world, and Silicon Valley in particular, in a bid to create jobs.

Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Terry Shannon (FF) is to lead the delegation, which consists of business leaders, academics and planners, on a four-day visit to San Francisco next week.

Mr Shannon said some senior executives based in Silicon Valley are of Cork descent, connections that he hopes will open doors.

He said the trip is designed to strengthen political, cultural, economic and educational ties between both cities, which were twinned in 1984.

“We are going to deliver a strong message that Ireland and Cork are open for business,” said Mr Shannon.

Conor Healy, chief executive of Cork Chamber, said the delegation would hold a key breakfast briefing for the region’s business leaders and meet with a number of companies, the IDA and Enterprise Ireland.

The delegation includes Cork City manager Tim Lucey, chamber president John Mullins, UCC director of international student recruitment and strategy Louise Tobin and CIT head of research Niall Smith.

“The primary focus will be on building business and education links between Cork and this part of the West Coast. Each participating organisation will lead activities in its area of interest,” Mr Shannon said.

The first day will include a meeting with San Francisco mayor Ed Lee and the San Francisco-Cork sister city committee.

Day two will be spent in meetings with the San Francisco chamber of commerce, followed by visits to the public utilities commission and the port.

For the rest of the trip, the delegation will concentrate on Silicon Valley.