Tánaiste Simon Harris has begun an official visit to California aimed at strengthening Ireland's economic partnership with the United States.
The programme of events during the Minister for Finance's visit will include a range of engagements with IDA and Enterprise Ireland client companies working in digital tech, healthcare, MedTech and pharma sectors.
He will also take part in a number of political engagements, including meetings with California Governor Gavin Newsom, and San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie.
The Tánaiste said he will be using the visit to emphasise the mutual benefits of Ireland’s trade and investment relationship with the US and to promote opportunities for closer cooperation.
Mr Harris said Ireland’s longstanding economic relationship with California is "a cornerstone of our wider partnership with the United States".
He said the economic partnership between the two countries "supports prosperity and employment on both sides of the Atlantic".
Mr Harris said the visit "provides an opportunity to further deepen that relationship."
"The scale of two-way trade and investment between Ireland and the US underscores the strength of our economic ties."
"Not only is the US Ireland’s biggest trading and investment partner, Ireland is the fifth largest source of foreign direct investment in the US, with investment by Irish companies valued at $390 billion," he added.
Mr Harris also noted that more than 200,000 people are employed by almost 800 Irish companies across the US.
