Trade missions to help Irish firms grow and diversify to be major focus of a Heather Humphreys Presidency

On Monday, Presidential Candidate Heather Humphreys will announce her intention, if elected, to have an active programme of President led trade missions.

These trade missions will have a wide focus in terms of securing investment and jobs for Ireland, and she is also particularly keen to use them to help domestic Irish firms grow.

As a former Cabinet Minister with over a decade of experience, Heather Humphreys has represented Ireland abroad on countless occasions, leading trade missions across the world. If elected, she wants to place a major emphasis on Presidential trade missions.

The former CEO of Enterprise Ireland, Julie Sinnamon, spoke at Humphreys’ campaign launch, and has strongly endorsed her campaign for the Presidency based on her experience working alongside her to support Irish businesses during Brexit and the pandemic.

“As Minister for Business during Brexit, I led over a dozen international trade missions to the United State of America, the United Kingdom, Germany, Hong Kong, China, South Africa, Kenya, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Japan. These missions were either with Enterprise Ireland and aimed at helping Irish companies get new markets abroad or with the IDA, seeking to attract companies into Ireland.

“I have the experience of sitting in those boardrooms and helping to open doors for Irish businesses and I want to bring that to the Presidency. I believe President-led trade missions could bring even greater access and engagement, and create great opportunities for Ireland.

“Given the huge global uncertainty in the world today, the President must play a positive role in ensuring that Ireland’s economy stays strong and keeps creating good, well-paid jobs.

“If elected, I commit to working closely with our enterprise agencies and to leading at least one major trade mission a quarter. In particular, I want to champion opportunities for indigenous Irish firms – to give them the opportunity to grow and to diversify – and thereby broaden the Irish economic base and help protect us from global headwinds.

“I supported businesses as a Minister, and I commit to being an active President who will work hard to represent Ireland with pride internationally and open new doors for Irish businesses.”