The Irish Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton. T.D will visit Korea from 26th June to 27th June 2014. This is the first visit to Korea by Ireland’s Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.

Minister Bruton holds a senior economic portfolio in the Irish Government and has played a key role in Ireland’s economic recovery and in supporting the development of a competitive, dynamic and innovative Irish economy.

During his visit Minister Bruton will participate in series of high level business engagements as well as a number of political engagements and meetings with representatives of successful Irish and Korean companies doing business together. His schedule includes a wide range of business and trade focused activities including:

• Meeting with a number of top Korean conglomerates in the lifescience and ICT sectors to highlight Ireland’s strengths in this sector and the attractiveness of Ireland as a business location;
• Meeting with the Vice Minister at the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning to discuss closer Governmental links in this area;
• Participating in business networking events hosted by Enterprise Ireland, IDA and the Embassy of Ireland for Korean and Irish business representatives;
• Meeting with the Biomedicine Industry Association;
• Meeting with Korea Telecom;
• Meeting with the President of the Korea International Trade Association to discuss trade and business opportunities in Ireland and Korea.
• Meeting with Korean business partners in the life science sector to discuss Korean-Ireland collaboration.
• Meeting with Korean representatives in the ICT sector.

During his visit Minister Bruton will discuss opportunities for Korean business in and with Ireland. Minister Bruton will also brief Korean businesses on Ireland’s journey to economic recovery from the global financial crisis to a new sustainable model built on enterprise, trade and innovation.

Similar to the Korean policies to develop the Creative Economy, Ireland’s policies in the area of Smart Economy ensure a focus on ICT and the Biopharma sectors and on Research, Development and Innovation. Minister Bruton will be in Korea to promote new opportunities for collaboration and business between Ireland and Korea in these sectors.

Ireland was badly affected by the global economic crisis which began in 2008 but significant progress has been made in restoring Ireland’s economic reputation. Irish exports are now in excess of pre-crisis levels and this year, Ireland is forecast to have a primary budget surplus.

Trade has been a key driver of Ireland’s economic recovery. Irish exports are at an all-time high, driving renewed growth. Economic recovery in international markets is fuelling increased demand for Irish products and services, including from Korea. Irish companies are widening their market reach, expanding into new international markets, opening up new business.

A range of factors are attractive for companies investing in Ireland, either via expansion or by locating in Ireland for the first time. 8 of the top 10 global ICT firms, 9 out of the top 10 global pharmaceutical firms and all 10 of the largest online companies in the world all have operations in Ireland. These are complemented by clusters of innovative indigenous companies and start ups. Ireland is open for business and this is an excellent time to invest in – and benefit from - Ireland’s recovery.