A trade mission involving several US based businesses and companies from both sides of the border is to get under way in Co Louth.
The mission will see a programme of networking, knowledge-sharing, and business/trade matchmaking initiatives take place at the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre of Excellence (AMTCE) in Dundalk over the coming days.
A total of 12 companies from the Pennsylvania region of the US and a similar number of businesses from either side of the border here will be involved.
The event coincides with the first NFL regular season game to be played in Ireland, which will see the Pittsburgh Steelers from Pennsylvania take on the Minnesota Vikings at Croke Park on Sunday.
Delegates taking part in the trade mission will represent a mix of early-stage scale-ups and established SMEs across sectors including technology, software, manufacturing, engineering, life sciences, healthcare, agri-food, and food tech.
The events organised for the coming days will include expert briefings, site visits, and cross-border networking opportunities, which have been designed with the aim of deepening cross-border and transatlantic trade links.
The collaboration is being facilitated by the AMTCE and its partners, Dundalk Chamber of Commerce, Newry Chamber of Commerce, Invest NI and the Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh, with whom the project partners have said they have fostered a "long-standing" relationship.
The US trade mission is being led by the President of the Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh, James Lamb, the CEO of the High Performance Building Alliance, Amanda Stewart, and the President and CEO of the Green Building Alliance, Jenna Cramer.
The event will also see businesses getting a tour of the facilities at the AMTCE.
The centre is run by the Louth and Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB) and located in the Xerox Technology Park in Dundalk.
Paddy Malone of Dundalk Chamber said the Dublin Belfast Economic offers unique opportunities for developing transatlantic trade.
"This area of the island has been identified within the National Development Plan as a key growth area.
"Our geographical position highlighted by M1Corridor.ie in the centre of the Dublin Belfast Economic Corridor offers both local business and our US friends unique access to Ireland, Britain and the US," he said.
"The quality of the education and training available to our youth offers turnkey opportunities," he added.
Meanwhile, Elaine Curran, Director of Trade and Investment at Invest NI, said US companies play a "pivotal role" in Northern Ireland's economy, investing in key sectors such as financial services, technology and advanced manufacturing.
"Many of our leading investors decide to reinvest and grow their operations in Northern Ireland, demonstrating confidence in our highly skilled workforce, centres of innovation and technological excellence, our business-friendly environment, and our unique dual market access proposition," she said.
"Northern Ireland is firmly open for business, whether it is US firms seeking to establish or expand operations here, or supporting local companies growing internationally.
"Invest NI remains committed to fostering new partnerships, driving investment, and ensuring our economy continues to thrive globally."
The Chief Executive of the LMETB, Martin O'Brien said: "The trade mission is about more than business.
"It is about building lasting relationships by bringing companies from the island of Ireland together with our long-standing partners in Pennsylvania, we are opening doors for collaboration in advanced manufacturing, technology, life sciences, and beyond."
Meanwhile, Gerard Smith, Director of the AMTCE in Dundalk, said: "This trade mission reflects the vision of AMTCE - to act as a bridge between industry, education, and international partners.
"The opportunities being explored this week have the potential to deliver real economic benefits across the island of Ireland," he added.
