The Taoiseach is today beginning a 3-day trade mission to the Netherlands and Germany.
Later today, Enda Kenny will be promoting Irish food and produce with some of Holland's top chefs at a luncheon organised by Bord Bia at the Irish Embassy in the Hague.
In the afternoon, he will visit the European Space Agency’s main research centre, where a number of innovative Irish companies are seeking to exploit technology transfer.
The Taoiseach will also address an Enterprise Ireland gathering on the economic recovery and the growing business opportunities for Irish and Dutch companies.
On Thursday, he will meet with senior executives of a global food corporation with operations in Ireland, and will tour a major pharmaceutical construction project outside Amsterdam involving a number of leading Irish engineering and construction firms.
The Taoiseach will then travel to Düsseldorf, where he will meet with Irish SMEs looking to grow exports to the German market and will address a business networking event in the city’s Industry Club.
On Friday, in Munich, the Taoiseach will meet senior executives from a number of German companies with significant operations in Ireland and will speak at an event to promote increased Irish beef sales in Germany.
The Taoiseach will conclude his visit with a courtesy call to Horst Seehofer, the Minister-President of Bavaria.
Representatives of approximately 90 Irish companies will participate in events on the Taoiseach’s programme.
It is expected that a number of new deals and partnerships involving Irish companies will be announced during the visit.
Last year, Ireland exported €165m worth of Irish beef to The Netherlands.