Trump tariffs and global uncertainty top of agenda at 2nd Global Economic Summit in Kerry
Examining the impact of global economic turbulence and the threat of cybersecurity are two of the major themes to be explored at the Global Economic Summit in Kerry this week.
More than 400 global business and political leaders will gather today for the second annual summit being held at the Europe Hotel and Resort in Killarney.
The event, which will be formally launched by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, will see some of the world's leading experts on economics, geopolitics, health and the environment.
Hosted by the Business Post Group, the Global Economic Summit comes just days after US President Donald Trump announced his intention to impose 50 per cent tariffs on European products and amid significant fears of a global recession.
In addition to the Taoiseach, the Summit, sponsored by Accenture, will hear from EU Commissioner Michael McGrath, Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers, Accenture Ireland boss Hilary O'Meara, UN expert on Debt Paolo Gentiloni, Amazon's EU Public Policy vice president Lucy Cronin, US Governor Martin O'Malley and US Representative Richie Neal.
Former White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney will be interviewed by RTE T broadcaster Miriam O'Callaghan while the summit will also hear from Nathan Cullen IBM Irish general manager, Maurice Regan, chief executive of JT Magen, Alice Charles of ARUP and Richard Jackson of Standard Gas.
Among the moderators at the event will be leading members of the Business Post newsroom including deputy editor Aaron Rogan, Brussels correspondent Sarah Collins and Technology and Innovation editor Charlie Taylor.
The summit's impact has grown significantly since its inaugural event in 2024, which saw over 400 leaders gather to discuss solutions to economic inequality, climate change, and geopolitical tensions.
Last year's attendees included New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Prince Albert II of Monaco, and former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.
Launching the event, finance minister Pashcal Donohoe said: 'The Global Economic Summit (GES) represents a unique opportunity each year to bring together business leaders, policymakers, and thought leaders to tackle some of the most pressing issues of our time. Against an increasingly uncertain international economic backdrop, this year's summit takes on particular significance as a forum to identify the key global challenges before us and forge a path forward.'
Megan Cassidy, Managing Director of the Global Economic Summit, emphasised Ireland's role as a global hub for innovation and policy-making: 'The success of last year's Global Economic Summit proves that Ireland can and should convene global leaders at this scale. The Summit bottles Ireland's incredible speed of change – from an agri-economy to a European Tech Leader – and uses that as a catalyst for progress and partnership.
'There is no better place than the beautiful surrounds of Killarney for fresh thinking and solutions. The partnerships we saw born at last year's retreat make us incredibly excited for GES25 when the world's eyes are on Kerry again,' Cassidy said.
With Ireland's position as a key gateway between the US, Europe, and global markets, GES25 aims to foster collaboration and strategic discussions that can drive meaningful change.
Hilary O' Meara, Country Managing Director, Accenture in Ireland, headline sponsor of the event, said: 'Ireland's global influence and innovative spirit is evident in the scale and calibre of the Global Economic Summit. Given the challenges the world faces, from geo-political to macro-economic to societal, it's particularly important to bring together global leaders from across sectors and with different perspectives. This Summit offers us all the opportunity to listen, learn, and to explore how we can solve these challenges together.'
The event will be hosted by Jonathan McCrea, founder of Whipsmart Media, and is backed by leading sponsors, including Accenture, Google, Elkstone, and Kerry County Council. Accenture returns as the headline sponsor for the second consecutive year.
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