Ireland-US Business Ties Strengthen: Hopes for Continued Support from Trump
Ireland ranks as the sixth-largest investor in the United States, with strong business ties between the two nations.
When Micheál Martin, Ireland’s Taoiseach (Prime Minister), visits the White House this Wednesday, the conversation will likely cover geopolitics and the strong Ireland-US business relationship.
Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland, the agency promoting foreign investment in Ireland, highlighted the importance of this partnership. “It’s a relationship that benefits both sides,” Lohan said ahead of the event. “As a small open economy, Ireland gains greatly from our trusted partnership with the U.S.”
Lohan, who will join Martin at the White House, pointed out that U.S. states host many Irish businesses, including the leading company, Kerrygold USA, known for its Irish butter and Dubliner cheese.
“Ireland is the sixth-largest investor in the United States,” Lohan noted. “It’s remarkable for a small nation like ours to have built such strong Ireland-US business ties, benefiting both countries. Irish companies invest in the U.S. and, in turn, contribute to U.S. parent companies through their subsidiaries.”
IDA Ireland works with 1,800 client companies, 800 of which are based in the U.S. These companies employ about 210,000 people across industries like tech, healthcare, and finance.
Earlier this month, Microsoft celebrated 40 years of business in Ireland. Brad Smith, Microsoft’s President, praised the longstanding Ireland-US business relationship, stating, “From our first European operations center to one of our most advanced cloud data centers, Microsoft Ireland has been vital in driving innovation across the EU.”
Other major companies like Google, Intel, Fidelity, and Pfizer also have a strong presence in Ireland. In November, Google announced a new investment that will create 550 engineering and R&D jobs, focused on artificial intelligence.
In a gesture to recognize these strong ties, President Donald Trump recently signed a proclamation naming March Irish-American Heritage Month. “We honor the deep friendship between the U.S. and Ireland and celebrate the significant contributions of Irish-Americans,” the proclamation read.