Press release
Taoiseach and Tánaiste to lead IDA Ireland international engagements on St Patrick’s week
From Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Published on
Last updated on
IDA Ireland, the state investment agency, will host investors online this year through a series of virtual roundtables with clients during St. Patrick’s week.
Senior Irish Government members and IDA CEO Martin Shanahan will join IDA clients to discuss current investment conditions in Ireland, Ireland’s COVID response and future investment opportunities.
An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, An Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar, Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Further and Higher Education Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris and the Minister for Trade Promotion, Robert Troy will be hosting meetings with IDA clients in the US, Europe, UK and Asia.
These roundtable meetings will have a sectoral focus in the areas of Life Sciences, Technology and Financial Services.
During the same week, IDA Ireland will launch a global marketing campaign aimed at encouraging business decision makers to choose Ireland in an increasingly competitive environment for foreign direct investment.
The new campaign will be based across digital, print and broadcast platforms and capitalises on the goodwill towards Ireland that exists across the globe on 17 March.
Alongside the digital-first campaign, there will be TV-advertising on Bloomberg, CNBC and China Business News throughout the week as well as full page ads in the FT and Wall Street Journal.
An Taoiseach, Micheal Martin said:
"FDI has proven to be extraordinarily resilient over the past year and will be key to Ireland’s recovery from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. So many Irish businesses also depend on the MNC sector, it is important that Ireland continues to attract and maintain current levels of investment. I have had the opportunity to speak with many IDA clients since taking office and I look forward to upcoming engagements."
An Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar said:
"Despite an unprecedented and difficult year, we still recorded a net increase in FDI jobs of nearly 9,000 in 2020. This is a testament to the attractiveness of Ireland as a destination for companies seeking to invest. The revenues generated by IDA companies allowed us to fund business grants, the PUP and wage subsidies, as well as extra investment in healthcare and education, to an extent that would not otherwise have been possible. We will continue to welcome FDI to Ireland and provide the right environment to allow international investors to flourish here. This St. Patrick’s Festival will be very different to previous years but we will make the most of it and continue to use it as an opportunity to meet, virtually, with companies thinking of choosing Ireland as their home and those that have already done so."
Martin Shanahan, CEO of IDA Ireland said:
"Like all other businesses, we have adapted to current circumstances. Moving our investor conversations online has been a great way to maintain dialogue in recent months.
"Marketing Ireland is our day job, and this new campaign will be targeted at potential investors. Over St. Patrick’s week our target market will see Ireland in TV ads, they will read about doing business in Ireland in their papers, and they will see our digital takeovers when they open their favourite news provider. IDA will also be participating in many other business events across the globe to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
"IDA client companies are responsible for over 250,000 jobs directly; expenditure in the Irish economy of over €25bn and 67% of all exports from Ireland."