BOSTON – “Ireland is open for business” was the recurring theme of the 2009 Ireland Chamber United States – New England Chapter [ICCUSA] Trade Mission to Belfast, Derry and Dublin. A 25 member delegation crossed much of the island to strengthen current ties with Massachusetts and to pursue new business opportunities.
“This trade mission was extremely important given the current challenges facing the global economy. Now is the time to do all we can to strengthen our economy – one of the means by which is to work even harder to facilitate international trade and investment,” commented Attorney Sean P. Moynihan of The Moynihan Group [TMG], who served as a delegate to the trade mission. The Moynihan Group is committed to facilitating an on-going engagement between Massachusetts and the island of Ireland in an effort to strengthen the political, business, educational, and cultural links with both countries.
A highlight of the trade mission for The Moynihan Group was a series of successful meetings in Dublin which led to a formal contract between TMG and KECO Limited of Ennis, County Clare. The firm will assist KECO with its mission to attract American companies to launch or expand their operations to Ireland. Despite the severe economic times that have fallen upon Ireland, the country still maintains one of the most competitive corporate tax rates across the entire globe and remains the gateway to Europe for many international businesses. TMG will work with company executives to identify companies that are in a strong position to launch operations or expand their efforts to Ireland.
ICCUSA was thrilled to welcome the addition of the Massachusetts Office of International Trade and Investment [MOITI] to the trip as both co-sponsors and attendees. The addition of MOITI was of particular significance as the quasi-public agency is often the first contact and line of communication for Irish companies interested in doing business with the Commonwealth and vice-versa.
The delegation arrived in Belfast and spent the following 5 days on a whirlwind tour packed with business development meetings, briefings/tours, receptions and formal dinners. The delegation represented a cross section of the economy including the life sciences, bio-tech, travel and tourism, financial services, real estate/mortgage, entrepreneurial, non-profit, and legal sectors.
A highlight of the Belfast portion of the trip was the Belfast Media Group’s 2009 40 Under 40 award ceremony which took place at Queen’s University Belfast. Mr. Moynihan and Paul Dwyer, President of ICCUSA were special guests at the event. The event was of particular interest to Moynihan as he was recently honored in New York by Belfast Media’s US publication The Irish Echo as one of its Top 40 Under 40 for 2009. The keynote speaker of the Belfast event was former Massachusetts Congressman and current Chancellor of UMass Lowell Marty Meehan who was on a separate visit to strengthen the new formal linkage between UMass Lowell and Queen’s University Belfast. Also on hand from the Belfast Media Group was Máirtín Ó Muilleoir – CEO of the Irish Echo newspaper. See above photograph
“I commend organizations like Belfast Media Group who work tirelessly to bring together the political, business and educational communities to enhance the quality of life for the people they serve. Events such as these not only honor those deserving of recognition but just as importantly they bring together community leaders to network and strategize on what is best for the community and how to effectively proceed forward – particularly in times such as these,” commented Moynihan.
Additional highlights of the Belfast portion of the trip included:
A briefing and tour of Belfast’s Titanic Quarter and the massive development project underway that will attract all sectors of the economy to the area.
A briefing from the West Belfast and Greater Shankhill Enterprise Council on the Shankhill Road with special guest MP, MLA, and Minister of Finance for the NI Executive Mr. Nigel Dodds. The council is working with public officials, area businesses, and the local community to put people to work and continue the effort to break down historic societal barriers with a focus on economic development and jobs.
A dinner followed that evening with the West Belfast and Greater Shankhill Enterprise Council and local entrepreneurs with special guest Gerry Adams MP for West Belfast and leader of Sinn Fein. Mr. Adams thanked the delegation for making Northern Ireland a focal point of its mission and emphasized the importance of continued links with Massachusetts, New England and the entire United States.
A visit to Andor Technology – Belfast’s world class digital camera manufacturing business which was established in 1989 out of Queen's University in Belfast. Andor employs 190 people in 15 offices worldwide and distributes its products to 1,200 customers in 55 countries.
A tour of Delta Point and Packaging which provided the group with an opportunity to see first hand the process by which packaging for dry goods such as cereals are created – from original design and print through quality control, packaging and shipping. The company has production plants in both China and India and employs 135 people.
Delegation pictured at the Delta Point Plant
A reception at the President’s Club of Belfast hosted by Belfast entrepreneur and CEO of Barnabus Ventures Mr. Mark Finlay, followed by a dinner with local business executives hosted by the Academy Restaurant of the University of Ulster’s Culinary School which provided the delegation with an intimate setting by which to meet and greet Belfast counterparts and discuss possible trade opportunities.
Mr. Moynihan with Mr. Mark Finlay of the Presidents’ Club, Belfast
The group also visited the University of Ulster – Magee College in Derry and the University of Ulster’s Center for Molecular Biosciences at Coleraine. Highlights of the visit in Derry included presentations of the incredible advances in community development, alternative energy, and robotic technology at Magee College; a visit with the Lord Mayor of Derry Gerard Diver at University of Ulster’s Office of Innovation; and a briefing and tour of a state of the art facility in Coleraine that could become a model for advances in health and biomedical sciences throughout the entire island and beyond.
Mr. Moynihan pictured with Derry Mayor Gerry Diver
“When I left Belfast 15 years ago, there was a Cathedral but no Quarter [referring to what is now known as the Cathedral Quarter of Belfast – one of the 7 quarters or districts of the city] and to see how Belfast has regenerated is quite something. The cross-community endeavor that is developing here is very encouraging and it is time to get focused and continue the investment plans for West Belfast and Greater Shankill,” said Paul Dwyer, President of ICCUSA New England.
The Dublin portion of the mission focused on travel/tourism, international trade, and biotechnology. Highlights included:
A reception at the Dublin law firm of Dillon Ustace which included a briefing and discussion of the current real estate and financial markets in Ireland and the economic outlook for the foreseeable future.
A tour of the Dáil [Irish Parliament] during which delegates had the opportunity to view Dáil deliberations and meet several TDs.
Dublin City University (DCU) hosted the delegation for a plenary session which provided a unique forum by which representatives of Ireland and Massachusetts provided presentations in their respective fields. MOITI’s Executive Director Ted Carr and Business Development Director Pat Bench spoke about the unique position Massachusetts offers to Ireland and to Europe as the point of entry to the United States for international trade due to the specialized and well established network of business, political, and higher education communities in the Commonwealth.
ICCUSA member Mr. Frank Reynolds, CEO of InVivo Technologies of Cambridge, MA gave an incredible presentation highlighting cutting edge R&D the company is engaged in for the treatment of acute and chronic spinal cord injuries. Invivo’s medical breakthroughs may very well prove life changing for many individuals with limited mobility due to spinal cord related injuries.
A formal reception at the US Ambassador’s Residence at Phoenix Park in Dublin. Although President Obama’s nominee for Ambassador to Ireland, Mr. Dan Rooney, was not in attendance, the group was hosted by the professional staff at the residence. [Rooney’s nomination has yet to be confirmed by the United States Senate]. Cllr. Eibhlin Byrne the Lord Mayor of Dublin, several business executives and entrepreneurs attended the event which provided an excellent networking opportunity for all.
A visit to Ulster Bank for a presentation of the global economic outlook with specific detail to Ireland – south and north – by a noted Irish economist Pat McArdle.
The delegation was hosted by the Hibernian Club at St. Stephen’s Green for a reception honoring the Special Olympics Massachusetts and Special Olympics Ireland. Former Boston Police Commissioner and current Chief Inspector of the Garda Inspectorate – the auditing unit of Ireland's national police force the Garda Síochána - Kathy O’Toole was in attendance at the event. Bob Johnson, ICCUSA member and CEO of Special Olympics Massachusetts gave a moving presentation which highlighted the organization’s achievements on both sides of the Atlantic. Special Olympics Ireland was well represented at the event and all attendees were interested in further substantive discussions regarding the proposition of an on-going partnership between Massachusetts and Ireland.
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