Minister Peter Burke Leads Four-Day US Midwest Trade Mission

Tuesday, 13 May 2025 17:03

The Longford Westmeath TD will be accompanied by IDA Ireland CEO.

The Enterprise Minister is heading to Midwest of the US this week for a trade mission

Longford Westmeath TD Peter Burke will be accompanied by IDA Ireland CEO Michael Lohan and Department of Enterprise officials.

In 2024, the US Midwest and South Territory supported 313 headquartered companies operating in Ireland, employing a total of 67,879 people with 80% of the jobs located in regional locations.

IDA Ireland has three offices in the region - Chicago, Atlanta and Austin.

Ireland and the US enjoy a significant and mutually beneficial economic relationship. The economic benefits flow both ways, creating prosperity and jobs for large numbers of people on both sides of the Atlantic. The US continues to be Ireland’s largest trading and investment partner, and Ireland is the sixth largest source of foreign direct investment into the US, with more than 200,000 people employed directly by 770 Irish companies across all 50 States.

Over the course of the week, the Minister will meet with some of IDA’s clients in Minneapolis and Chicago, highlighting the unique advantages of locating in Ireland to service a European marketplace of 450 million people.

The Minister will also visit Washington DC where he will meet with a number of Enterprise Ireland client companies and attend the Select USA Investment summit. This year marks the biggest ever Irish delegation to Select USA by Irish companies, with over 25 companies travelling to partake. Strengthening and diversifying trade links in this context means working at the federal level, the State level and at regional levels, to promote and advocate the value of two-way trade.

Minister Burke said: “During this trade mission I will be working to strengthen our trade links, promoting and advocating the value of our two-way trade relationship with some of our most important transatlantic businesses. US companies employ over 210,000 people in Ireland and our value proposition to companies looking to do business here or expand continues to be strong, with companies based here having access to the European market of 450 million customers. It is important we invest in these partnerships with business leadership, and that we promote and encourage new business relationships into the future”.