Taoiseach Micheál Martin has launched Enterprise Ireland's St Patrick's Day programme of more than 30 business events across the US, as part of Ireland's mission to the US.
Ireland is the world's biggest investor in the US on a per capita basis and Enterprise Ireland today announced its seventh office in the US.
The Taoiseach plans to deliver a strong message of Ireland's commitment to double down on driving even more economic value to the US and further building on the strong business ties between Ireland and the USA for the benefit of both countries.
Enterprise Ireland's programme of business events spanning 12 cities across the US over the coming week, includes a Business Leaders lunch and Investment Summit in Washington DC and the inaugural Irish Tech Summit in Mountain View in California.
The pinnacle of the diplomatic mission will be Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday March 12.
"Ireland delivers an outsized economic impact to the USA in terms of investment, buying billions of dollars of American goods and services and creating jobs in the USA," the Taoiseach said today.
"The US has long been, and remains, one of Ireland’s most steadfast economic partners and we are focused on driving even more economic value to the USA through investment, job creation and spend in the economy," he said.
"Irish multinational companies are deeply embedded and invested in the US market with significant manufacturing footprint and employment across the USA. This substantial investment underscores the commitment of Irish enterprises to the US market and reflects a deepening economic interdependence between the two countries," he added.
Accelerating investment in the US, Enterprise Ireland today announced its seventh office in the US, with the opening of a new office in Atlanta to further boost the success and growth of Irish companies there.
Enterprise Ireland supports nearly 950 Irish companies to invest and scale in the US and in the past 18 months alone, has supported more than 80 Irish companies to establish new US presences, bringing strengthened partnership to US industry.
Kevin Sherry, Interim CEO of Enterprise Ireland, said the US is the second largest country export market for Enterprise Ireland client companies with €5.9 billion exports in 2023, representing 17% of its total exports.
"Supporting Irish companies to scale and invest in the USA is an important priority for us and our business events programme across the USA for St Patrick’s Day will focus on further supporting our client companies to strengthen their business impact in the USA," he said.
"The expansion of our footprint and team across the USA underscores our commitment to support Irish companies to scale in the US, delivering economic value for both Ireland and the USA and reflects the deepening economic ties between both countries," he added.
Major Irish employers support thousands of jobs in the US and buy multi-billion dollars' worth of US raw materials, goods, and services, with plans for further expansion and investment in the country.
These include:
Ardagh Group - the packaging producer operates 17 US plants across 12 states, serving beer, food, and spirits brands. It employs about 6,000 in the US and has invested $1.5 billion in its US operations over the past four years.
Glanbia - the global nutrition company has over 20 US production facilities and several innovation centres across the US in locations including Chicago, Idaho, Michigan, and California. Employing 4,000 people in the US, it generates a significant proportion of its $3.8 billion revenue in dollars and bolstered its US presence with the $300m acquisition of Flavor Producers in 2024 - its largest ever ingredients acquisition.
Glen Dimplex - the manufacturer of electrical heating, precision cooling and appliances, operates twin plants in the US in Michigan and Washington. Employing about 500 in the US, it has invested heavily in its American operations and strengthens its US footprint by sourcing 70% of its local materials in the US and expanding through strategic acquisitions.
Kerry Group - the taste and nutrition firm has invested more than $5 billion in the US, including a $120m sustainable facility in Rome, Georgia. Kerry Group operates 70 sites (48 manufacturing) across states like Georgia, Texas, and Missouri, and employs over 6,000, spends $1.5 billion a year on US raw materials, and partners with major US food firms.
Kingspan - the insulation and building solutions company has 32 US sites across 17 states, and plans investments of $750m, including three new manufacturing sites this year. The company employs about 2,500 in the US, adding 500 jobs last year across five new sites in Virginia, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Maryland, and Illinois.
Ornua - the dairy ingredients and consumer brands firm has over 50 years of US investment and owns Kerrygold, the second biggest butter brand in the US. Ornua Ingredients North America employs more than 700 in rural Wisconsin and Minnesota, supports more than 900 indirect jobs, and buys $240m in US dairy annually (40% Wisconsin, 40% Minnesota, 20% California, Idaho, and Texas) plus $110m in goods/services.
Ryanair - is one of Boeing’s biggest customers, placing a $40 billion order for MAX-10 aircraft in 2023, the biggest US goods order by an Irish firm, supporting Boeing's more than 170,000 US jobs.
