News & Events

Minister Breen concludes Enterprise Ireland’s Trade Mission to India

Enterprise Ireland’s Trade Mission to India, led by the Minister of State for Employment and Small Business, Pat Breen TD, concludes today (20th November 2016). Thirteen Irish companies from the aviation, financial services, pharmaceuticals and health, ICT and education sectors travelled on the mission to three cities - Mumbai, Bengaluru and New Delhi.

During the mission, Dublin company Shimmer announced details of a joint venture with Indian company Essen Technologies in a deal worth €3.5M and creating 15 new jobs over 3 years. The venture will see Shimmer’s award winning sensor platform incorporated in Essen’s wearable Electro Cardiogram monitor Heartwear® product.

During the visit to Bangalore on Wednesday 17th November, Minister Breen witnessed the signing of a partnership between Shaw Academy and Flipkart, India’s largest e-commerce marketplace to enable online certified courses in photography. Shaw Academy is an Irish company which has grown rapidly since its foundation 4 years ago and is now the world’s largest live online educator. It is has an office in Banaglore as well as the UK and the US.

In Mumbai, he witnessed the signing of a partnership agreement between Irish video communication company Vu2Vu with Indian company LAMHAS Satellite Services Ltd. As expanding opportunities for Irish companies in the aviation sector was a key objective of the mission, Minister Breen met with the Indian Minister for Civil Aviation and addressed the Aero Expo India attended by key policy and decision makers and stakeholders from the Indian aviation, aerospace, air cargo & allied industries.

Before departing India, Minister Pat Breen TD said: “My aim on this Trade Mission with Enterprise Ireland was to highlight Ireland as a source of innovative products and services and an ideal location for FDI. India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and there is huge potential for innovative Irish companies in the Indian market. This trade mission was also a valuable exercise in promoting Ireland as a welcoming country for Indian students to come to Ireland pursue a world-class education. As we address the challenges posed by the Brexit vote this trade mission provided valuable introductions for the participating companies to new business partners and customers in India”.

Brendan Flood, Executive Director International Sales and Partnering at Enterprise Ireland, who accompanied the Minister on the Trade Mission added; “This Trade Mission is part of Enterprise’s Ireland’s broad drive to increase the export market penetration of Irish companies in the wake of the U.K Brexit referendum result. Trade Missions play a major role in promoting Ireland’s world-class goods and services abroad and enabling the global ambition of Irish companies. This visit highlighted the significant opportunities that exist for Irish companies in India and we look forward to working with them as they build on the connections created and scale their businesses in India”.

Prior to his departure, Minister Breen visited a major Education in Ireland fair which commenced in New Delhi on Saturday 19th November. Fourteen Irish Higher Education Institutes are participating in the fair organised by Enterprise Ireland with the objective of attracting Indian students to study in Ireland. The fair will move on to Mumbai, Bangalore and Chenai and is a key part of Education in Ireland’s strategy to increase the number of international students in Ireland by 33% by 2020.

Ends

For further information: Conor O’Donovan, Head of Communications, Tel: ‪01 7272912Conor.odonovan@enterprise-ireland.com