Largest Ever Irish Trade Delegation
Posted by Jim on May 7, 2026
THE IRISH ECHO:
Minister Peter Burke speaking at a reception earlier this year at the residence of the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Ed Walsh.
News May 07, 2026 by Irish Echo Staff
More than 50 Irish companies representing nine sectors traveled to the SelectUSA Investment Summit in Washington D.C. this week as part of an ongoing effort to accelerate investment, partnership and expansion across the United States.
And coinciding with the trade mission Enterprise Ireland launched a dedicated New York “Landing Pad” to accelerate the next generation of Irish companies entering and scaling in the U.S. Close to 100 Enterprise Ireland client companies established new U.S. presences in 2024 and 2025.
The Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke led Enterprise the delegation of companies.
The more than fifty companies spanning nine sectors, from life sciences and technology to high-tech construction and climate tech, underscored what s release described as “Ireland’s deepening commercial partnership with the United States and the ambition of Irish enterprise to grow across America.”
Continued the release: “This mission builds directly on the momentum of St. Patrick’s Day engagements in Washington D.C. earlier this year, when Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister Burke held high-level meetings reaffirming Ireland’s commitment to the transatlantic economic relationship.
“That relationship has never been stronger: Ireland has rapidly ascended from the 9th to the 5th largest source of foreign direct investment into the United States, with Irish-origin cumulative investments now valued at a record $389 billion.
“On a per capita basis, Ireland is the single largest investor in the U.S. of any nation in the world. The top 10 Irish companies in the U.S. employ over 125,000 people and support hundreds of thousands of indirect jobs across the country, from rural manufacturing facilities in Kentucky and Arkansas to innovation hubs in New York, Boston, and San Francisco.
“The companies travelling to SelectUSA this week represent the next wave of that story; ambitious, innovative Irish firms ready to deepen their roots in the U.S. market.”
Minister Burke said: “The U.S. is one of Ireland’s most important economic partners, and the scale and quality of our delegation is a clear statement of intent. Ireland has earned its place as one of the largest foreign investors in the United States through decades of investment, partnership and delivery.
“The Irish companies at SelectUSA are either expanding existing operations, or entering the U.S. for the very first time, but they all share in common the talent, innovation and long-term ambition that have always defined Irish enterprise. I am proud to lead this record delegation and to demonstrate that Irish companies are committed, valuable and long-term partners for American growth.”
Jenny Melia, CEO of Enterprise Ireland, said: “The companies in this delegation are a remarkable reflection of the strength of Irish innovation. Manna Aero is delivering packages by drone in Texas, Aerogen’s technology is treating critically ill patients in 60% of America’s top hospitals, and Mbryonics is building the optical infrastructure for the next generation of satellite communications.
“Irish companies are trusted by leading U.S. firms, proven as resilient partners, and deeply embedded in the American supply chain, with the top ten Irish companies alone employing over 125,000 people in the U.S. SelectUSA is an important platform for identifying further opportunities to scale in the U.S., and our new Landing Pad initiative in New York is designed to give the next generation of Irish companies the accelerated in-market support they need to grow faster.”
Of the 50 Irish companies attending SelectUSA the largest represented were in the area of high-tech construction, digital technologies, life sciences, and enterprise solutions, reflecting the significant and growing opportunities these sectors present across the United States.
“The delegation includes global names CRH, Kerry Group, and Kingspan, which together employ nearly 40,000 people across the U.S. and have committed billions of dollars in future American investment. Many attending companies have existing U.S. presences and are using SelectUSA to scope further expansion, whether through new locations, deeper partnerships, or workforce growth. Others are making their first move into the American market, using the Summit as a launchpad to identify the right states and partners for their entry strategy.”
The New York Landing Pad is being described a “a flagship initiative to give Irish companies expanded infrastructure, networks, and expert in-market support they need to establish and scale U.S. operations quickly and effectively.:
Added the release: “The 12-week intensive programme focuses on accelerating go-to-market execution, expanding founders’ commercial networks, leveraging mentorship from experienced founders, and driving operational excellence on the ground, with the goal of eliminating the 18-month learning curve that typically accompanies U.S. market entry.
“The Landing Pad will be anchored at Enterprise Ireland’s New York office and supported by the agency’s existing U.S. offices in Boston, San Francisco, Austin, Chicago, and Seattle.
“The initiative reflects the scale of Irish ambition in the U.S.: America is a leading destination for Irish global expansion, accounting for 16% of all new global presences established by Enterprise Ireland client companies in 2024 and 2025, with close to 100 companies entering the market over the past two years. New York is the primary anchor hub, capturing more than 38% of all new U.S. market entries by Irish companies, while San Francisco, Austin, and Seattle collectively account for a further 44% of new Irish footprint across the country.”
As part of the trade mission Minister Burke will sign the Artemis Accords at NASA Headquarters on behalf of Ireland, joining more than 50 nations committed to the principles of safe, sustainable, and transparent civil space exploration.
“The signing reflects Ireland’s growing role in the global space economy, a sector in which Irish companies like Mbryonics are already playing a significant role, developing the photonic communications infrastructure that will underpin the next generation of satellite networks.
“Ireland’s membership of the European Space Agency has enabled Irish companies to begin large-scale production and global deployment of space technologies, creating high-value jobs and positioning Ireland in a rapidly growing industry.”