Ireland is the sixth largest investor in the United States and wants to strengthen its partnership under the Trump administration.
Ireland's Taoiseach, or Micheál Martin, whose prime minister visits the White House on Wednesday, is likely to be debated, but it could benefit businesses in both interstate ways.
“It's a relationship that goes both ways,” Michael Lohan, CEO of Ida Ireland, a national institution that promotes foreign investment, told Fox Business ahead of the event. “If you look at companies that are the economics of relationships, Ireland is a small, open economy. We have that partnership and benefit from a trusted partnership with the US.”
Rohan, who will accompany Martin to the White House, said the US state is home to Irish companies, including the largest Kellygold USA, the famous manufacturer of pure Irish butter and dubliner cheese.
September 11, 2017, Kellygold brand butter from Duseldorf, Germany. (Federico Gambarini/Picture Alliance via Getty Images)
“Ireland is currently the sixth largest investor in the United States,” Rohan said. “It's an incredible journey for us as a small country where we received FDI. [foreign direct investment] It took the profits back to the United States not only independence in the Irish economy, but also in terms of Irish companies investing in the United States, as well as the contributions that subsidiaries make to their parent companies in the United States.
IDA counts 1,800 client companies, of which 800 are located in the US, employing approximately 210,000 Irish workers across multiple industries, including technology, healthcare and finance.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin spoke to the media in Austin, Texas on March 11, 2025, continuing a weekly visit to the US. (Niall Carson/PA images via Getty Images/Getty Images)
Earlier this month, Microsoft celebrated 40 years of business in Ireland and received a special award from IDA.
Treasury Scott Bescent leaves a strong two-word message in the welcome book at Ireland Airport
| Ticker | safety | last | change | change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| msft | Microsoft Corp. | 380.45 | +0.29 |
+0.08% |
| googl | Alphabet Inc. | 164.04 | -1.83 |
-1.10% |
| INTC | Intel Corp. | 19.78 | -0.15 |
-0.75% |
| pfe | Pfizer Inc. | 25.99 | -0.65 |
-2.44% |
“For 40 years, Microsoft has shared special relationships with Ireland and the government,” said Microsoft President Brad Smith, who has accepted the award. “From the first European Operations Center to ship software to customers, to one of the most sophisticated cloud data center campuses offering AI solutions, Microsoft Ireland continues to play a pivotal role in driving innovation and transformation across the EU.”
Google, Intel, Fidielity and Pfizer also operate domestically.
Brad Smith, president of Microsoft Corp., spoke at the TechUK Tech Policy Leadership Conference held in London on June 6, 2023. (Getty Images/Getty Images)
In November, Tech Giant announced new investments in 550 new, country-based engineering and R&D roles dedicated to AI.
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Last week, President Donald Trump signed the March declaration to create a month of Irish-American Heritage.
“We commemorate the special bond of friendship between the United States and Ireland, and we respect the extraordinary contributions of Irish-American citizens, both past and present,” the declaration reads.
