Monday, 22nd June 2026 - Minister for Enterprise, Tourism & Employment Peter Burke TD together with IDA Ireland CEO Michael Lohan today embarked on a trade mission to the US Midwest region. Commencing in Chicago, the delegation will meet with some of IDA Ireland’s largest clients in the Financial Services, Technology, Engineering and Life Sciences sectors headquartered in the Midwest territory over the course of the visit.

The United States is Ireland’s largest source of FDI, with over 1,000 operations employing more than 218,000 people, equating to almost 10% of Ireland’s workforce. The US Midwest is home to 120 IDA Ireland clients including some of the largest employers in Ireland and employing almost 50k people in leading areas of innovation.
 
Speaking ahead of the visit, Minister Burke said, “the US is, and continues to be, our largest single trading partner. In an era of intense global competition for FDI investment, Ireland is an attractive and stable business location.  We remain a premier location to establish, invest and expand, supported by a clear commitment to long-term partnership and sustained international engagement. I look forward to meeting with the business community in the Midwest, building on past engagements and creating new partnerships and employment opportunities into the future.”

Michael Lohan, CEO, IDA Ireland said, "This trade mission is about deepening our partnerships at the highest levels by engaging directly with the C-suite of some of the world’s most influential companies who have significant operations in Ireland.  

Competition for foreign direct investment has never been as intense and visits such as these serve to increase awareness of Ireland’s attractiveness as a place to invest, providing an excellent opportunity to reaffirm Ireland’s appeal as a hub for tech innovation and manufacturing excellence as underpinned by our proven talent pool, strong track record and our unique access to the European market.

Ireland’s position as an economically and political stable business location continues to play a critical role in influencing major investment decisions at corporate level across IDA’s client base.

IDA Ireland’s strategy, Adapt Intelligently: A Strategy for Sustainable Growth and Innovation 2025-29 is focused on strengthening long-term investment, scaling cutting edge innovation, driving sustainable change and maximising regional growth, and I look forward to discussing and sharing perspectives on the global investment landscape and Ireland’s value proposition to enable and support ongoing international investment opportunities.”