Mexico-Dublin Business Conference

The Tánaiste highlights Ireland’s potential as a gateway to Europe for Latin American businesses seeking to invest and expand

The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore, T.D., highlighted Ireland’s potential as a gateway to Europe for Latin American businesses seeking to invest and expand.

Delivering a keynote address to Mexican business leaders attending the first Mexico-Dublin Business Conference on 1st May, the Tánaiste said:

“Over 1,000 overseas companies have chosen Ireland as their strategic base in Europe. Eight of the top ten global ICT firms, nine out of the top ten global pharmaceutical firms, and all 10 of the largest online companies in the world are based in Ireland. Independent studies have ranked Ireland first in the world for the flexibility and adaptability of our workforce and Dublin as the best city in the world for human capital.

“Ireland is experiencing a sustainable recovery, with 5,000 new jobs now being created every month. Exports and inward investment have been key to this recovery, and the Government is determined to maintain the policies and regulatory environment which have facilitated this outward-looking and creative approach.

“Mexico is Ireland’s largest trading partner in Latin America. Ireland exported €690 million worth of goods to Mexico in 2013, almost three times the value of our exports in 2000. Irish companies – in the agri-food and packaging sectors and increasingly in aviation – are looking to Mexico for the partnerships which are key to opening up new markets and developing new trading relationships. Mexican companies are also seeking new partners for investment and cooperation. I would like to think that those of you who have travelled to Dublin will find that Ireland will be your gateway to Europe”.

Ireland-Mexico relations have been growing strongly, notably with the visit to Mexico last year by the President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins. This week’s Business Conference will mark an important stage in the development of the Irish-Mexican bilateral relationship.

The Minister for Trade and Development, Joe Costello T.D., who launched recently the Latin American Trade Forum, an initiative of the Irish Exporters’ Association, will also address delegates at a reception in Iveagh House on Friday, 2nd May.

The Mexico-Dublin Business Conference, which is an initiative of the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Oisín Quinn, has attracted strong interest from the business communities in Mexico and Ireland.