Irish Minister for Trade Promotion to visit Canada on Trade Mission, promoting the positive impact of Irish and Canadian trade across key sectors

• Irish Minister for Trade Promotion, Dara Calleary, will begin a four-day multicity Trade Mission to Canada to promote the importance of bilateral trade between Ireland and Canada.
• There are over 300 Enterprise Ireland clients doing business in Canada, with exports reaching a record high in 2022. Canada is a top 10 global market for Irish companies.
• As part of the visit, the Minister will meet with Irish companies here and participate in important discussions with Canadian manufacturing and construction leaders.

TORONTO – November 6th, 2023: Today, Ireland’s Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Dara Calleary, will begin a four-day visit to Canada to further strengthen the strong economic relationship between the two countries. The visit to Toronto and Vancouver is led by Enterprise Ireland, the Irish government’s trade and innovation agency, and IDA Ireland, the Irish Foreign Direct Investment Agency.

Over 300 Enterprise Ireland-backed companies regularly export to Canada, reaching a record high of over

$660 million (€452 million) in 2022 – representing growth of 11% year-over-year. Canada is a top 10 global market for Irish companies, offering a valuable gateway to the North American market for Irish entrepreneurs and established businesses. More than 60 Enterprise Ireland companies have established a Canadian presence, employing more than 7,500 people.

“I am thrilled to be visiting Canada and meeting with Irish businesses that bring innovation to Canada,” said Minister Calleary. “We deeply value our growing collaboration with Canada, as the country continues to be an essential trade ally for Ireland, and we’re excited to continue fostering innovation and cooperation between Ireland and Canada, so that the people of both countries can thrive.”

As part of the visit, the Minister will participate in discussions with Canadian construction and manufacturing leaders who are forging partnerships with Irish companies. Milestones include:

• Launch of the Ireland-Canada Construction Network, where the minister will meet with construction leaders in Toronto to discuss challenges and opportunities in the industry and innovative solutions amidst Toronto’s construction boom.
• Hosting the Digital Transformation in Government roundtable with key stakeholders in Ontario, including Irish company, Diona, who has a long-standing establishment in Canada and provides successful health and human services projects at municipal, provincial, and national levels.
• Installation of the first Moffett Automated Storage system in Canada at Toronto-based YaYa Foods, where the state-of-the-art system is poised to revolutionise the company’s warehousing operations, driving sustainability, profitability, and operational excellence.
• Expansion in the Canadian small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) market from one Enterprise Ireland company, Enterpryze, who has established a presence in Vancouver this year opening the door for more Canadian employment opportunities.
• Meeting with Combilift and their Canadian partner, Leavitt Machinery, demonstrating the integration of Irish machinery for clients in British Columbia.

“It is with great excitement that we welcome Minister Calleary to Canada. With the growing exports between Ireland and Canada, we look forward to demonstrating the positive impact this relationship has had for both countries,” said Tom Cusack, Divisional Manager, Global Markets, Enterprise Ireland. “With the partnerships between Irish and Canadian business partners continuing to strengthen and open new opportunities for collaboration each year, we’re excited to shed a light on our success story and celebrate the innovations that are making a difference here in Canada and Ireland.”

In the last three years, 25 Irish companies have set up new direct presences across Canada, expanding their innovation across key Canadian sectors including digital technologies, healthcare, fintech, construction and automation.

For more information about Enterprise Ireland visit their website.

About Enterprise Ireland

Enterprise Ireland is the Irish government’s agency responsible for the development and growth of Irish companies in global markets. We invest in the most innovative Irish companies through all stages of their growth and connect them to international customers across multiple industries. Our goal is to build successful, long-term business relationships between international companies and Irish partners. With 40 offices worldwide, Enterprise Ireland’s teams of industry experts consult with international businesses to understand and solve their business needs.