Minister for Diaspora praises business people graduating from Back for Business

Minister for Diaspora Seán Fleming has praised the latest group of Irish business people graduating from Back for Business - a government programme to help returning Irish emigrants set up businesses in Ireland.

He said:

"It is great to see people coming home from across the world, creating businesses and opportunities in their communities right across the country."

Minister Fleming was struck by the wide variety of smart business ideas, and by the commitment of these returning entrepreneurs. He said:

"Starting a new business is never easy, and is maybe even harder for returning emigrants. I saw a real determination to advance these business ideas. I wish them every success in getting their new businesses off the ground."

Established by the Department of Foreign Affairs in 2018, Back for Business hosts about 25 returning entrepreneurs each year. This year’s participants have come back from Australia, Bahrain, China, Canada, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Thailand and Vietnam. The programme draws on the guidance of successful business people who give their time voluntarily to pass on their experience to participants.

The Minister said:

"These young businesses have a better chance of success thanks to the local knowledge, networks, and links that these six months have given them. It is positive to see that almost all of these entrepreneurs have worked with their Local Enterprise Offices and Enterprise Ireland in developing their businesses here at home. It was great to see so many of these returned Irish emigrants setting up businesses in all regions of Ireland."

Minister Fleming met the Back for Business group at the Merrion Hotel on 22 June 2023.