Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 1 May 2013

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade

Trade Promotion: Discussion with American Chamber of Commerce Ireland (Resumed)

3:45 pm

Mr. Brian Cotter:

If one considers the pattern of economic development in the United States there has been a shift in economic activity, particularly to the south. Maybe in the future it will shift slightly up to the north west because of the development of the oil and gas boom in Nebraska and other states in that region. The opportunities will be where there is the greatest dynamism and where we have the greatest relationships. Where we have the relationships might not be where there is the dynamism so we need to get the balance right. There is no doubt that Texas has been booming. It has been very creative too. We think of it as an oil state but it has also developed financial services and technology sectors and services and entertainment.