merrion street

Today 21 September 2016 Eoghan Murphy TD, Minister for Financial Services launched the IFS IRELAND banner brand as part of his wider Financial Services itinerary in Singapore.
This launch, as part of the Minister's wider Asian programme, is a key deliverable of the Government's IFS 2020 Strategy. Now in its second year, this Strategy is driving the growth of international financial services' in Ireland with the target of adding 10,000 jobs to the sector by end-2019.
At the launch before a gathering of financial services professions drawn from across the areas of banking, funds, leasing, FinTech and asset management Minister Murphy commented that:
"Launching the IFS IRELAND brand internationally and next January's European Financial Forum in Dublin are central to raising international awareness of Ireland as the destination of choice for specialist financial services and as a gateway to the wider European market."
"Today's brand launch and next January's Forum in Dublin have an added dimension given the result of the UK Referendum on EU Membership. We now need much more than before to raise awareness of Ireland place within the EU in important Asian markets such as Singapore."
"We also need to bring the dialogue on the future of financial services in Europe to Dublin, I consider nowhere else better placed to explore the future dynamics of the relationship between Brussels and London."
Later today at the National University of Singapore Minister Murphy will deliver a lecture entitled 'From financial crisis to Brexit - an Irish perspective'. As well as media, IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland client engagements, his schedule also takes in bilateral meetings with Finance Ministry counterpart Minister of State Indranee Rajah, and with Ms Jacqueline Loh of the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
Speaking of his Singapore programme Minister Murphy noted:
"Ireland and Singapore share so many similarities. We are both open export-led economies with similar sized English-speaking populations. We both have thriving financial services sectors positioned as gateways to wider regional markets. We are both very focused on emerging technologies and cultivating entrepreneurship as the key to future prosperity. It goes without saying that we have much to learn from each other, and much to benefit from each other from increased and closer ties."
Minister Murphy's Asian programme continues tomorrow in Shanghai.
More information and updates about IFS IRELAND and the European Financial Forum can be found atwww.ifsIreland.com and via the Twitter hashtags #IfsIreland, #EFF2017
ENDS
21 September 2016

Further information from:
David Byrne - Press Officer - pressoffice@finance.gov.ie - 00353 86 026 7978

Notes for editors
Relevant Links:
Embassy of Ireland Singapore: https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/singapore/
Embassy of Ireland China - Shanghai: www.dfa.ie/irish-consulate/shanghai/
Embassy of Ireland Japan: www.embassyofireland.jp
IDA Ireland: www.idaireland.jp
Enterprise Ireland: www.enterprise-ireland.or.jp