First Ever Trade Mission to South East United States for Ireland's Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

DUBLIN, IRELAND and ATLANTA, GA--(Marketwire - Sep 19, 2011) - This week, in the first ever trade mission to the South East United States, Ireland's Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton will join executives from 60 Irish companies for events and meetings with senior public officials and influential leaders from business and academia. The Enterprise Ireland-supported mission intends to spark new business ties for Irish companies while profiling Ireland as a source of world-class products and services, and a preferred location for foreign-direct investment. The four-day itinerary includes stops in Atlanta, Georgia; Miami, Florida, and the North Carolina cities of Raleigh and Charlotte.

Kevin Conboy, President of the Irish Chamber in Atlanta, commented, "We are delighted to have a trade mission from Ireland come to Atlanta, led by Minister Richard Bruton. We welcome the Minister and the Irish companies in the delegation, and look forward to the further expansion of our economic ties with Ireland in the coming years of economic recovery."

The mission begins today in Atlanta where Minister Bruton will meet with Georgia Governor Nathan Deal. Earlier, he will deliver opening remarks at an Enterprise Ireland-supported Telecoms Partnering Forum. The event gathers Irish telecoms innovators for discussions with leading US telecoms providers. A visit with the faculty at Georgia Tech's Enterprise Innovation Institute follows. Here, the Minister will get the latest on the institute's cyber security initiatives. Joining the meeting are executives from prominent Irish cyber security companies. Since 2006, Georgia Tech has maintained a presence in Ireland. Last year, the institute forged a partnership with the National University of Ireland, Galway and the University of Limerick to develop a translational research center. The Irish companies include: FreeFlow, Adaptive Mobile, Altobridge, NewBay, Openet, Fifth Province Ventures, TheNowFactory and Accuris, among others.

Other highlights include a meeting with executives at Oldcastle, the US holding company of Ireland-based CRH and the largest manufacturer of building products and materials in North America. Its 35,000-plus US headcount makes the company Ireland's top investor in the US. In the State of Georgia alone, it has 36 locations that employ more than 1100 people.

The agenda also includes a lunch co-hosted by Enterprise Ireland and the Atlanta arm of the Irish Chamber of Commerce. In addition to local business leaders, the event will draw executives from Irish companies with operations in Georgia, along with their customers and partners. In the late afternoon the Minister will visit the Smart Farm/Innovation Ireland stand at the International Dairy Show.

Minister Bruton remarked on Ireland's exceptional brand recognition in the US, but emphasized the importance of continually reaching for untapped opportunities. "Year after year, we surpass our own export records for the US market. Last year, in spite of gloomy economic conditions, we saw a 14 percent increase in exports. We know we can raise the bar further by uncovering opportunities in locations where we haven't historically had a strong presence. Breaking new ground is what this week's trade mission is all about. I'm proud to be accompanied by Irish innovators and entrepreneurs. They're here to sell, collaborate and invest. Together, we're looking forward to meeting the people that make business happen in Georgia, Florida and North Carolina. We expect to get a lot of work done," said the Minister.

To learn more about Enterprise Ireland, please visit www.enterprise-ireland.com.