Trip to the Big Apple proving worthwhile, says Mayor Hayes

OVER 120 key business leaders in the United States attended a networking event in New York aimed at showcasing County Clare’s attractiveness as an investment location on Wednesday night.
Organised by Clare County Council and hosted by the Consul General of Ireland in New York, the event was attended by senior representatives and chief executive officers of leading American companies, including Novartis, Horizon Medical Group, Abbott, OCO Global, Jana Foods and Medicomp.
The financial sector was strongly represented with the managing director of Credit Suisse and a senior analyst with JP Morgan attending. Clay Constantinou, a US ambassador during former President Bill Clinton’s term of office, also attended the event.
Speaking to The Clare Champion, the Mayor of Clare Pat Hayes said the event provided Clare County Council with a rare opportunity to make a presentation to some of the key business and tourism players in the United States.
“On behalf of the people of Clare, I also would like to thank His Excellency, Mr Noel Kilkenny for facilitating one-to-one meetings between officials from Clare County Council and US-based venture capitalists,” commented Mayor Hayes.
“The evening allowed for one-to-one interaction with representatives of leading companies in the US. Specially prepared promotional material on the airport, Shannon Estuary and the renewable energy sector were distributed. This material was prepared with the support and assistance of companies in the Shannon Region.”
The mayor joined Clare County Manager, Tom Coughlan and senior executives from the economic development and planning division of Clare County Council at the event. Clare Fine Gael deputy and the chairman of the Irish Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, Pat Breen was also in attendance.
Along with organising the event, the Clare delegation will attend separate meetings with Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, CIÉ Tours International and Tourism Ireland this Thursday and Friday.
The delegation will attend mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral before attending the annual St Patrick’s Day Parade along New York’s 5th Avenue on Saturday.