Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin is visiting New York this week on a short trip to promote the Irish economy.
Mr Martin will meet Mayor Michael Bloomberg and senior business executives tomorrow during the two-day visit in a bid to help attract jobs and investment across the Atlantic.
"The minister is travelling to New York as part of efforts by the Department of Foreign Affairs to protect Ireland's business reputation in the global recession and to attract investment and jobs to Ireland," a spokesman said.
"He will also be supporting a number of Irish companies who are aiming to secure key local contracts which will support jobs at home."
Mr Martin will address the America Ireland Fund dinner in Manhattan tomorrow which is expected to be attended by 1,200 business and political leaders. “The speech is expected to have a strong economic focus and will outline Ireland’s policy of continuing to develop a smart economy,” the spokesman said.
He will also hold talks with senior officials at the UN on Friday on foreign policy issues, including the Middle East and the Irish peacekeeping mission in Chad.
Mr Martin will use the visit to promote the inaugural Global Irish Economic Forum taking place in Farmleigh in the Phoenix Park in September. The event, modelled on the annual business summits in Davos, Switzerland, will see a gathering of over 120 Irish political, business, entertainment and sporting heroes from across the world to discuss initiatives to tackle the downturn.
Mr Martin will take part in meetings with leaders of the Irish community in New York before returning to Ireland on Saturday morning.