Networking and showcasing products on a trade and investment mission in Ireland in October 2015. 

The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD, began a two-day Trade and Investment Mission to Dundalk, Waterford, Cork and Galway organised by Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland as part of a joint Global Sourcing initiative. The objective is to maximise sales opportunities for Irish companies with multinational companies based in Ireland, as well as large indigenous Irish companies.

The trade mission in Ireland is a new initiative first introduced last year: this year’s mission will build on the success of the first trade mission last year which covered the major cities in Ireland.

Over the course of the two days, more than 370 one-to-one meetings will take place between 126 indigenous Irish companies and 69 multinational companies. Panel discussions and networking events will take place at each venue, giving Irish companies the opportunity to engage directly with procurement teams from multinational companies across a wide range of sectors including ICT, Web 2.0, Pharma, Biotech, Medical Devices, Consumer, Security and Engineering.

This year, IDA will host a meeting desk at each venue to enable Irish companies discuss how their product or service offer can add value to an IDA sponsored company in Ireland.

To highlight the extent to which a number of multinational companies are already sourcing products and services from local Irish companies, site visits will take place to Boston Scientific in Galway, and Teva Pharmaceuticals in Waterford.

Speaking from Dundalk at the start of the mission Minister Bruton said: “The trade mission in Ireland is about one thing: Irish owned businesses generating more contacts, more sales and more jobs through their engagement with the multinationals based in Ireland.  In my time as Minister, I have undertaken dozens of successful trade missions with Irish businesses to countries around the world, where we have opened doors for participating companies with large companies and Government organisations. The “Trade Mission in Ireland” initiative puts the same successful model to use here in Ireland where we have a thriving global multinational base. Over the course of the next two days, 370 one-to-one meetings will take place between Irish companies and multinationals based in Ireland as part of the Global Sourcing initiative being undertaken by Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland.

Julie Sinnamon, CEO Enterprise Ireland, who is accompanying Minister Bruton on the trade and investment mission added: “The objective of this trade mission is simple – we want to help Irish companies win more business from foreign-owned multinationals based in Ireland. By leveraging off the existing, strong relationships that IDA Ireland has with these MNCs, the mission will open doors for Irish companies and give them the opportunity to meet key decision makers and buyers.  Most of the Irish companies participating on this mission already have a successful track record of supplying multinational companies across the globe. We are now pushing hard to increase the number of Irish suppliers to the MNC base in Ireland - helping Irish companies grow and create more jobs in Ireland”.

Martin Shanahan, CEO, IDA Ireland who is accompanying Minister Bruton on the trade and investment mission added: “IDA is pleased to be involved in this initiative, introducing our clients to Irish-based suppliers to explore what opportunities may exist for them to work together to generate additional business. Multinational companies deliver substantial economic benefits to Ireland in terms of direct employment, capital spend and developing Ireland’s skills base but we believe there is further benefit to be developed through initiatives such as this trade and investment mission”.