Multinationals here are a key market for Irish business
We have set a target of supporting 1,000 new start-ups between now and 2029, and for 275,000 people to be employed in Enterprise Ireland-supported companies. Scaling companies is also a key area of focus.
Enterprise Ireland wants a greater number of internationally successful, Irish-owned companies of scale that can deliver significant benefits for Ireland.
We are focused on increasing the number of world-leading Irish companies, with targets of €50bn in export sales by Enterprise Ireland-supported companies, and 150 large Irish exporting companies of more than 250 employees supported by the agency by 2029.
To support this ambition, Enterprise Minister Peter Burke last week led a two-day Enterprise Ireland investment mission across Ireland, focused on strengthening ties with some of Ireland's largest homegrown multinationals.
Supported by Jenny Melia, CEO Designate of Enterprise Ireland and the agency's new Global Irish Business Unit, Burke and the delegation met and engaged with the leadership teams from a number of these global Irish companies to explore new opportunities.
This mission also provided a platform for significant discussions with the leadership teams from these companies around potential opportunities to expand their operations here.
A key objective was to encourage more value-add activity, and to help connect them further with the various aspects of the Irish entrepreneurial and research ecosystems, maximising their contribution to Ireland's economy.
This is the first such investment mission led by Enterprise Ireland and the agency's Global Irish Business Unit, which was established last year to focus on stimulating investment and deepening relations with global Irish businesses that are making significant contributions to the Irish economy.
A number of important factors are required to foster a company's scaling ambition, including funding, skills and talent, and support in global markets. And Enterprise Ireland stands ready to support companies.
These established multinationals we engaged with through this investment mission this week all make a significant contribution to our economy, This programme also enabled the Enterprise Ireland team to gain insights from these global leaders on their scaling journeys, including understandings around best practice around the integration of mergers and acquisitions and long-term retention of key talent.
Enterprise Ireland will bring a renewed focus to ensuring that we enable more Irish businesses to scale, and to do so at a faster rate.
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