Seán Kenny
Question:369. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when he expects to visit the USA next for a trade mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9416/14]
View answerTuesday, 25 February 2014
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The USA is one of Ireland’s key exporting destinations. Recent statistics released by the CSO show that for 2013, USA is still the number one destination for goods exported from Ireland.
As part of the St. Patrick's Day Promote Ireland Programme, there will be several members of the Government in the USA assisting with trade promotion events. The Taoiseach will have his traditional bilateral meeting with US President Barack Obama as well attending several other Trade, Investment and Tourism events. Also in the USA over this period will be the Minister for Social Protection in New York, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in San Francisco, the Minister for Health in Boston and Cleveland, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in Atlanta and Savannah, the Attorney General in Washington D.C. the Minister of State with responsibility for Gaeltacht and the Islands in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and the Minister of State with responsibility for Research and Innovation in Chicago and Kansas City. All these Ministers will be taking part in many events aimed at promoting trade, tourism, inward-investment and culture abroad in order to foster economic growth and job creation at home.
In 2014, I plan to lead a mission to Texas and the Southern States in May having successfully led Ireland's first Trade Mission to that region in 2013. I also plan on leading a Mission in the third quarter of the year to the North East of the USA for which arrangements have yet to be finalised.