Local Fianna Fáil Minister of State, Deputy Robert Troy, departed for a five-day trade and investment visit to Canada and the United States covering Toronto, Montréal, Boston and New York, this week.
The trade visit, organised by Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, aims to boost trade collaboration and support an accelerated export-led recovery of Irish businesses in international markets. Thirty Irish companies will be taking part in the trade visit representing a wide regional spread.
This is the first in-person trade visit to North America undertaken by Enterprise Ireland since the onset of Covid-19. Over the last 24 months, over 150 Enterprise Ireland client companies have set up a new presence on the ground in North America, representing a broad range of sectors including digital technology, healthcare, agritech, cleantech and fintech.
In 2020, the combined US and Canadian markets represented 18 percent of total Enterprise Ireland client exports, with exports reaching almost €4.5bn to the North American region.
Over the five day trade visit, Minister Troy will meet with senior executives from across the finance, healthcare, education, and technology sectors among others, supporting the growth of thirty Enterprise Ireland client companies and reaffirming Ireland as an ideal location for Canadian and American companies to establish and grow.
“I am delighted to be leading the Enterprise Ireland/IDA Ireland trade visit to the USA and Canada. The trade visit will focus on key growth opportunities and collaboration with both markets, supporting early entrants and established Irish companies to expand key business relationships with their North American counterparts.
“Ireland’s continued contribution to FDI in both Canada and United States, almost €10 billion and $240 billion respectively, highlights the depth of the economic ties we have with both countries. With nearly 170,000 people employed by Canadian and US companies in Ireland, this further demonstrates the mutually beneficial and vital trade links we have with these major markets.
“Throughout this visit I will be engaging with key decision-makers in Government and industry to promote the innovative capabilities and competitive offers of Irish companies. Trade and collaboration with these international markets is crucial to Ireland’s recovery as we rebuild after Covid-19,” Minister Troy commented.
