The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore, T.D., today launched the video “St Patrick’s Day 2014 #IrelandInspires”.
The three-minute video, which showcases the best of Ireland, was developed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Fáilte Ireland in coordination with the State agencies. It will be shown at hundreds of events organised by Irish embassies around the world over the St Patrick’s Day period and promoted by the embassy network and the State agencies on social media globally.
Launching the video, the Tánaiste said:
“St Patrick’s Day is a chance for us to talk directly to our diaspora and to the many people around the world who have an interest in Ireland. The next few days are an opportunity for us to extend that conversation to as many people as possible globally. Ireland has come through several tough years, and sometimes we need to be reminded – and the world needs to be reminded – of how much we have going for us. This video is about our people, our companies, our culture, our creativity and our country. There’s no better time to send a positive message about who we are.”
The Government’s St. Patrick’s Day ‘Promote Ireland’ programme of international activity will see 27 Ministers taking part in over 100 business events and 80 high-level political meetings in 35 cities across 23 countries. While in France, the Tánaiste will hold meetings with President Hollande, Prime Minister Ayrault and Foreign Minister Fabius.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade coordinates the international communication of information regarding Ireland’s economic recovery and our business and investment strengths, working closely with Enterprise Ireland, the IDA, Tourism Ireland and Bord Bia.
In 2013, these coordinated efforts directly reached over 200,000 people at events hosted or addressed by members of the Government or the embassy network. Trade and investment were promoted at 101 additional specific business events, attended by over 8,500 Irish and international company representatives.
St Patrick’s Day is also a period of intensive tourism promotion led by Tourism Ireland overseas, and supported by Ireland’s network of embassies. The value of these promotional opportunities, including the global ‘Greening’ of landmark sites such as the Sydney Opera House and the Pyramids in Egypt, is estimated at over €10 million.
ENDS
Press office
11 March 2014
Note for Editors:
Watch video here: http://youtu.be/sMBTcx4_1Ew
Trade, Tourism and Investment Promotion Work of DFAT
• The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade led the recently published Review of the Government Strategy for Trade, Tourism and Investment in close collaboration with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and other Government Departments and State Agencies involved in promoting trade, tourism and investment.
• The Review, which is designed to ensure that the State coordinates its effort overseas in a manner which yields the best possible economic return
• The Tánaiste recently published the first annual report of the economic and promotional work undertaken abroad by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Ireland’s Economic Diplomacy in Action 2013. The report shows how the embassy network continues to play a crucial role in supporting the Government’s Strategy to increase trade, tourism and investment in Ireland.
St Patrick’s Day 2013
• Over the 2013 St Patrick’s Day period, the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Ministers, with the support of the Embassy network and State agencies:
o Undertook 20 programmes to promote trade, tourism, investment and Irish culture overseas
o Participated in 88 high-level political meetings, including bilateral meetings with President Obama, Prime Minister Cameron, then Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and US Secretary of State Kerry, among others
o Engaged in 70 focussed company engagements with potential to support new export opportunities or win new investments
o Promoted trade and investment in Ireland at 101 business events, attended by over 8,500 Irish and international company representatives contributing to new leads for indigenous exporters and for inward investment to Ireland
o Promoted key messages on trade, tourism and investment in opinion-editorials and interviews in the international media – reaching, at a very conservative estimate, over 16.3 million people.