Gilmore hosts event for business leaders

DUBLIN TALKS: TÁNAISTE EAMON Gilmore met representatives of Goldman Sachs, IBM and McDonald’s in Government Buildings yesterday…

DUBLIN TALKS:TÁNAISTE EAMON Gilmore met representatives of Goldman Sachs, IBM and McDonald's in Government Buildings yesterday at an "investment round table" involving US business people visiting Dublin to attend an American football game.

Glen Dimplex was also among the companies represented at the event which was described as a “joint Government/Coca-Cola meeting”. The event was convened by Coca-Cola and hosted by Mr Gilmore.

Mr Gilmore told reporters afterwards that he outlined what Ireland had to offer as an investment location and told the business people there were “many positive reasons why companies should invest in Ireland”.

Irishman Irial Finan, executive vice-president of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia, and a member of the Government’s global Irish network advisory group, moderated the meeting. He said Coca-Cola wanted to play its part in helping to support the Government’s job-creation and economic growth strategy.

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IDA Ireland chief executive Barry O’Leary said the event highlighted the importance of Ireland’s strategic relationships with many US companies. “Ireland is staging a strong economic recovery and pivotal to these efforts are long-term relationships with key US corporates,” he said.

The meeting was also addressed by Coca-Cola company director and chairman emeritus of Notre Dame Foundation, Don Keough. The business people are in Ireland to attend the game between Navy and Notre Dame taking place in Dublin.

The “investment round table” is one of a series of events taking place on the margins of the game.

Mary Minihan

Mary Minihan

Mary Minihan is Features Editor of The Irish Times