Minister of State with responsibility for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation Robert Troy is embarking on a two-day visit to Madrid today to promote Spain as a destination for Irish construction exports and to highlight the success of Irish companies in the Spanish data centre market.
The trade mission will focus on sharing the expertise Irish construction companies have gained in the high-tech construction sub-sector through building data centres with Spanish companies, with the Spanish data centre market expected to grow 13% to $4.1bn in value by 2026.
"For Irish companies looking to start their export journey or indeed for those already exporting and looking to grow their market reach, I encourage them to consider Spain and the wider eurozone market," said Minister Troy.
"The eurozone is one of the world’s largest economic regions and benefits from ongoing economic growth. With significant post-Covid investment and recovery programmes driving opportunity across the region, the potential for innovative Irish companies is there for the taking."
“I look forward to seeing how Irish construction companies are helping their Spanish partners connect with cutting edge Irish innovation. Trade is strong between our two countries and the potential to further strengthen our economic links with Spain is clear."
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Trade between Enterprise Ireland-supported companies and Spain was worth €356m in 2020, and the mission aims to connect Irish companies with opportunities in the eurozone.
The firms participating in the visit are based in Dublin, Limerick, Louth, Roscommon, Tipperary, Wicklow and Wexford, with Enterprise Ireland having organised a meeting with interested Spanish, European and Latin American companies at Madrid Platform.
A panel session entitled ‘Connect with Irish High-Tech Construction’ will also take place at Madrid Platform where each of the Irish companies will have the chance to present and discuss Irish expertise and offerings in the sector.
They will also meet with representatives from Madrid Nuevo Norte (Distrito Castellana Norte Madrid), which is the largest urban regeneration project in Europe, presenting opportunities for several of the participating companies.
A breakfast networking event and seminar with SPAINDC, the Association of Data Centres in Spain, will take place on Wednesday, giving the Irish companies a chance to learn the dynamics of the data centre market in Spain from the industry's main stakeholders.
Minister Troy will also visit Enterprise Ireland client companies C&D Foods and Zartis, who have successfully grown in the Spanish market.
Ireland and Spain have a strong and important trading relationship," said Tom Kelly, divisional manager for industrial and life sciences at Enterprise Ireland. "The Spanish market provides a significant opportunity for Enterprise Ireland clients in a region where Irish companies enjoy a reputation for innovation and flexibility.
"Irish companies have enjoyed great success in the Eurozone markets, but there is also great untapped potential in the region and we continue to identify opportunities for Irish businesses across a range of sectors, including construction.
"We’re delighted to have Minister Troy lead this trade visit to Madrid to support our client firms to further explore these opportunities."
(Pic: Getty Images)
