2013 Press Releases

Global Irish Economic Forum at UCC

3 Oct 2013
The event is designed to support local SME’s break into new markets and boost exports. A panel discussion involving members of the Global Irish Network and EI client companies in Cork will focus on how these companies can develop internationally and will be followed by a public Q&A at UCC.

UCC hosts the opening regional portion of the Global Irish Economic Forum this Thursday 3 October. The event includes a public forum with Q & A, which will be live-streamed at http://www.ucc.ie/en/live/ at 1.35pm.

The regional event is organised by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in cooperation with Enterprise Ireland and UCC, ahead of the Dublin segment on 4 and 5 October.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr Eamon Gilmore, T.D., today announced that leading international business people will provide advice to businesses based in the South of Ireland this Thursday (October 3). For the first time, the 2013 Global Irish Economic Forum includes a series of regional events in Cork, as well as Galway and Belfast, which are designed to support local SME’s break into new markets and boost exports. A panel discussion involving members of the Global Irish Network and EI client companies in Cork will focus on how these companies can develop internationally and will be followed by a public Q&A at UCC.

Announcing the Forum, the Tánaiste said: “260 leading Irish and Irish-connected figures from across the globe will come together in Ireland this week to play their part in building on our recovery. This year’s Forum will be very much focused on opportunities for job creation, particularly in high-potential sectors including financial services, food and agri-tech, higher education, smart-ageing technologies, social innovation and the digitisation of the global economy.”

Members of the Network who will participate in the public forum in Cork include:

  • Liam Casey, Founder/CEO, PCH International (based in Ireland)
  • Laureen Regan, President, Regan Productions, Canada
  • John Hartnett, President and Chair of the Irish Innovation Centre, USA
  • Colm O’Carroll, President, Epsilon Chemicals and Advance Laboratories Inc., Canada

President of UCC, Dr Michael Murphy commented: "University College Cork is delighted to host the opening portion of the Global Irish Economic Forum, which comes at a delicate yet appropriate stage of Ireland’s economic recovery. We particularly welcome Liam Casey, John Hartnett, Colm O’Carroll and Laureen Regan, each an exemplary ambassador for the promise Ireland holds as a global hub for business innovation. Together with the businesses in attendance, their voices will resonate clearly the ability of the region to continue to contribute meaningfully in delivering jobs and economic stimulus in particular. As the comprehensive university of the south of Ireland, we feel it is key to facilitate dialogue that further drives economic recovery."

The Global Irish Network is composed of more than 300 of the most influential Irish and Irish-connected individuals in almost 40 countries. The Network provides the Government and Irish businesses with invaluable advice and expertise.

The Global Irish Economic Forum will be held at Dublin Castle on October 4th and 5th, the day after the regional fora. The structure of this year’s Forum is designed to facilitate a focused discussion on topics that were selected based on their potential to support the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs.

The Tánaiste further remarked: “The Global Irish Economic Forum is a success story. Since the first one was held in 2009, it has helped to transform the way the Government does business with leading international figures who are connected to Ireland. As in previous years, the members of the Global Irish Network will travel here on their own time and at their own expense. I would like to thank them for sharing their knowledge, expertise and experience to help Ireland and Irish companies grow and prosper.”

The last Global Irish Economic Forum held in 2011 lead to the launch of The Gathering – the largest ever tourism initiative organised by the State – and the creation of the Global Irish Contacts Programme, which links leading business figures abroad with Irish companies seeking to break into new markets and boost exports. Connect Ireland which aims to create 5,000 jobs in the next five years by harnessing Irish networks globally is also a product of the Global Irish Economic Forum.

The programme for the Global Irish Economic Forum is available here and the list of confirmed participants is available here.

As space is limited, requests to attend the Forum Q&A segment at 1.35pm Thursday 3 October should be made to m&c@ucc.ie by 5pm Wednesday 2 October.

University College Cork

Coláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh

College Road, Cork T12 K8AF

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