The Taoiseach visited Mexico in January last. Enterprise Ireland welcomed the opportunity to participate in the visit by the Taoiseach as it gave an opportunity to raise the profile of Ireland in Mexico, present a strong platform to develop links to the Mexican market and provided Enterprise Ireland clients with an excellent opportunity to strengthen and deepen their links with actual and potential Mexican customers.
The companies that participated in the trade mission were chosen to reflect the cross-sectoral opportunities that currently exist in Mexico. A total of 18 representatives from Enterprise Ireland's clients participated in the mission and these engaged in more than 80 meetings with Mexican customers and potential customers. The major sectors represented by Enterprise Ireland's clients on this trade mission were the software, engineering and educational sectors. The mission also included the Dublin Chamber of Commerce and the Irish Dairy Board, which had their own programmes. During the visit the chief executive of Enterprise Ireland held meetings with the major trade organisations, the Ministry of Economics and the premier bank in Mexico.
While it is difficult at this early stage to quantify the actual impact of the trade mission in terms of, for example, deals done or partnerships formed, Enterprise Ireland is confident that, in the medium to long-term, client companies will secure significant business in Mexico. A formal review process on the visit is now under way. Based on information currently available to Enterprise Ireland, it can be stated that all the participating client companies are of the view that their participation was well worthwhile for the following two reasons. First, the presence of the Taoiseach gave the mission, its participants and, indeed, Ireland, a high profile in the local Mexican media. Second, as the Enterprise Ireland breakfast was hosted by the Taoiseach, this enabled the companies, through the ambassador's invitations, to attract the presence of senior representatives from their targeted actual and potential customers. More than 200 representatives of Mexican industry attended the breakfast.