Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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136. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department is considering a virtual trade mission to Singapore during the second quarter of 2021. [12694/21]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Each year, Enterprise Ireland offers a programme of trade missions and events which support the goal of securing high-level market access for companies based in Ireland who are aiming to grow business overseas and increase domestic employment.

In recent years the majority of Ministerial-led Trade Missions have taken place to the Eurozone, North America and Asia Pacific, which represented the strongest growth opportunities for Irish companies. These Trade Missions focused on promoting the innovative capabilities and competitive offerings of Irish companies to international buyers in sectors including internationally traded services, fintech, high-tech construction, engineering, ICT and lifesciences.

Trade missions will be taking place virtually and, where possible, physically during 2021. In relation to Singapore, Minister Robert Troy will be attending a virtual “Airports of the Future” event in the coming weeks at the request of Enterprise Ireland to support Irish firms.

My Department continues to work closely with its agencies to assess opportunities to help Irish companies to access new markets and to increase the levels of foreign direct investment into Ireland, including in markets in the Asia-Pacific region such as Singapore.