McGrath in US to focus on trade and creative industries

Minister for Finance Michael McGrath is to meet with tech companies in Silicon Valley this week as part of an official visit to California.

The purpose of the trip is to highlight the two-way trade and investment relationship between Ireland and the US, and to meet with a number of firms that have a long-standing and significant presence in Ireland.

The visit will commence in San Francisco where Mr McGrath will meet with key IDA Ireland client companies across the technology, internet and pharma sectors and will participate in Enterprise Ireland engagements focused on healthcare and technology.

The programme of events also includes a meeting with Fiona Ma, California State Treasurer, an address at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business and an event to mark the 40th anniversary of the twinning of Cork and San Francisco.

In Los Angeles, Mr McGrath will focus on creative industries and will meet with some of the major global players in this sector, many of which have significant and growing investments in Ireland and work closely with Screen Ireland, IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland.

“There is so much to celebrate and so much opportunity in terms of Ireland’s links with California, where 2.3 million of its population claim Irish heritage,” Mr McGrath said.

“The focus of my visit is on deepening that relationship and helping it to grow even further,” he added.