Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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169. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a trade mission to the west coast of United States of America is planned before the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50083/22]

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 have been 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.

I visited the United States from 24 – 29 April 2022 as part of a trade and investment mission to the US West Coast region. The trade and investment mission was jointly organised by our trade and investment agencies, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, and I was accompanied by the CEOs of the two agencies.

As part of the mission is to highlight trade and investment opportunities, and to support the work of Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, I met with executives of a number of companies and I participated in a number of business events and roundtable discussions. These included a venture capital roundtable, ICT Advisory Panel; a Bay Area Industry roundtable; and a US Healthcare Roundtable Meeting. These events and meetings were attended by executives from a large number of companies that are operating in the relevant areas.

The question of a further trade mission to the west coast of the US will be considered in the context of the trade mission programme for 2023.