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Taoiseach Enda Kenny will travel to the United States today for a three-day programme to San Francisco and Silicon Valley focused on securing investment and jobs for Ireland and supporting exporting Irish firms and entrepreneurs.

During the visit, the Taoiseach will visit the headquarters of a number of the most significant multi-national companies located in Ireland and supported by IDA Ireland, who between them employ nearly 16,000 people in Ireland as well as meeting potential new investors.

The Taoiseach will also meet the Governor of California Jerry Brown where the key focus will be on strengthening the strong economic, trade, investment and tourism links between Ireland and California.

As part of his programme the Taoiseach will open the Enterprise Ireland Access Silicon Valley event which aims to assist Irish companies in breaking into the US market and partnering with US firms. He will also meet exporting Irish companies who have secured significant contracts with US partners located in California as well as meeting members of the Irish community and the GAA based in San Francisco.

Commenting on his programme, the Taoiseach said:

Silicon Valley is a vitally important market for Ireland. Overall, 36,000 people work at US West Coast based firms in Ireland. My visit here this week is vital in cementing and reinforcing existing investor relationships as well as building new connections with a view to securing new jobs and investment for Ireland during 2014, the year of jobs.