Gov. Patrick and Senate President Therese Murray meet with Taoiseach Enda Kenny in Dublin.
(Photo: Merrionstreet)


The Governor of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick was this week in Ireland as part of an effort to create business links between Ireland and Massachusetts.

Governor Patrick traveled to Ireland late Tuesday evening (May 14). On Wednesday morning the governor, along with Senate President Therese Murray who was in Ireland for 10 days, met with the Taoiseach Enda Kenny to discuss the Commonwealth’s ongoing commitment to expanding opportunities for economic development and job creation between Massachusetts and Ireland.

The meeting was one of several events Governor Patrick participated in on Wednesday, which also included a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade for Ireland Eamon Gilmore; a Digital Health and Life Sciences Trade Summit, sponsored by the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center and the HealthXL Accelerator Program; and a meeting with the Ireland-Massachusetts Partnership.

On Thursday the governor visited Trinity College where he led a forum with students from the U.S. and Ireland on expanding opportunities for partnership between the Commonwealth and Ireland in education and the Innovation Economy.

In 2012, Ireland was the Commonwealth’s 14th largest export partner, with over $509 million in goods and services to Ireland. Massachusetts is also Ireland’s sixth largest import partner. The Commonwealth imported over $1.2 billion worth of goods and services from Ireland last year. This trip is another example of Governor Patrick’s focus on advancing Massachusetts’ presence in the global marketplace.

The Governor has recently lead delegations of business, academic and key sector leaders on Trade Missions to Colombia, Brazil, Chile, Israel and the United Kingdom. These Trade Missions have resulted in foreign-based businesses locating in Massachusetts and job creation here in the Commonwealth and in partner countries.