Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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161. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of virtual trade missions to Vietnam that were held in 2020 and 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3425/22]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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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 life sciences.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, trade missions took place virtually throughout 2020 and during Quarters 1 to 3 of 2021. Physical trade missions took place during Quarter 4 of 2021. In relation to Vietnam, there were no virtual trade missions held in 2020 or 2021.

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 Vietnam.