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On the back of a record year for exports for Enterprise Ireland client companies, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, and Tánaiste Micheál Martin will lead Enterprise Ireland’s programme of events to celebrate St Patrick’s Day and mark the enormous impact Irish businesses are making globally.

Demand for Irish innovation is at an all-time high. In 2021, exports by companies supported by Enterprise Ireland increased by 12% to a record €27.29bn. This is the highest ever level of growth for Enterprise Ireland-backed companies in export value, and strong increases were experienced across almost all sectors in 2021.

Enterprise Ireland will host 48 trade events across 17 countries to engage international partners and shine a light on the innovation and scale of Irish businesses. 

International collaboration is critically important for the increased cross-border access to innovation and productivity that arise through trade and investment. Ireland’s innovators are making a positive contribution to industries all over the world and showcasing these achievements at trade events enables other regions to understand the opportunities of doing business with Ireland.

Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, An Tánaiste Micheál Martin, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney, and other Government Ministers, will join Enterprise Ireland CEO Leo Clancy in leading a series of events with Enterprise Ireland clients and international partners across the US, Europe, UK, IMEA and Asia Pacific regions over the St Patrick’s Day period.

Taoiseach Varadkar will meet with two Enterprise Ireland client companies in Washington D.C – Manna Drone Delivery and IrishEyes TV, which will for the first time be streaming the live feed of Irish St Patrick’s Day events around the world.

Leading the trade mission to Australia, Minister Simon Coveney will also welcome the significant growth of Irish exports to Australia, while Minister Charlie McConalogue will travel to New Zealand to mark the strong agri-business relations between both countries. Exports by Enterprise Ireland client companies in the Australian market increased by 28% to over €300 million in 2021, an increase of €66 million on the previous year and the biggest increase across the region. Total exports to the Australian and New Zealand markets from Ireland were worth almost €350 million in 2021. 

Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence Peter Burke will visit Enterprise Ireland’s first ever Irish Pavillion at Cosmoprof, a B2B Beauty Event in Bologna, Italy on March 16th. Now in its 54th year, Cosmoprof, is the most influential global event dedicated to all facets of the beauty industry. Eight Irish skincare companies will be exhibiting at the Ireland Pavilion which gives them the opportunity to position themselves in front of buyers and their best-in-class counterparts in Europe.

Speaking about Enterprise Ireland’s programme of St Patrick’s Day events, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney T.D. said: “St Patrick’s Day provides a unique opportunity for Irish businesses to enhance and build on trading relationships with key markets and boost collaboration overseas.  Enterprise Ireland client companies are leading in various industries such as tech, consumer goods and the creative sector and this week allows us as a nation to showcase Ireland’s innovators and the positive contribution they are making across the world. As we mark these significant, mutually beneficial achievements of Irish companies this week, we also look toward to the future, as we continue to deepen relationships and expand bilateral trade growth.”

On the trade mission to Australia, Minister Coveney said “Australia is the second largest export market for Enterprise Ireland clients in AsiaPac.  In 2021 and 2022, 63 Enterprise Ireland clients established a new presence in Australia, highlighting the bounce-back of Irish companies post Covid-19, and the increasing importance of the Australian market for Irish companies.”

Leo Clancy, CEO of Enterprise Ireland, said: “Enterprise Ireland client companies are playing a vital role in enabling innovation and productivity in a range of cutting-edge industries across the globe. We’re enormously proud to play an active role in the historic growth of Irish companies’ footprint worldwide and we are delighted to be visiting some of these dynamic companies this week. As we prepare for St Patrick’s Day, it’s an excellent time to celebrate the achievements of Irish trade and focus on our committed ambition for expansion and growth.”