The London Stock Exchange hosted Ireland Day today in association with the international Irish business network, Ireland INC.
The event was attended by 120 international and Irish business leaders and was aimed at promoting the country's unique trading relationship with the UK.
As of last October, there were 25 Irish companies listed on the London Stock Exchange's main market with a market capitalisation of €45.9m. Another 20 Irish firms are on the AIM market with a capitalisation of €2.5 billion.
Irish firms raised almost €8.2 billion in capital on the London Stock Exchange between 2006 and last year.
Ireland imports more goods from the UK than the rest of Europe combined and in 2012, the UK overtook Belgium to become Ireland's second biggest export market, after the US.
On stage for the market opening ceremony were Tony O’Reilly from Providence Resources, Paul Price from Morgan Stanley Investment Management; Eammon Sinnott from Intel; Paul Connolly from Connolly Capital; Basil Geoghegan from Citigroup; Emmett O’Connell from Great Western Mining and Leslie Buckley from Digicel Group.
“The UK and Ireland have one of the oldest and closest economic relationships in the world, and it is a pleasure to host so many Irish businesses at London Stock Exchange today,'' commented the LSE's chief executive Alexander Justham.
''By further strengthening the connections between our two financial communities, we can ensure a better funding environment for entrepreneurs and businesses across Ireland, the UK and Europe,'' he added.
“Ireland Day at London Stock Exchange truly acknowledges the unique economic relationship between Ireland and Great Britain. The ringing of the bell to open trading by a representative of Ireland and British business leaders sends yet another significant message to key capital markets, reinforcing the benefits of this partnership,'' commented Ian Hyland, the founder of Ireland INC.
He said that the event builds on the outstanding achievments following the establishment of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce and the Queen’s recent visit to Ireland.
