The growing relationship between Guadalajara and Dublin stepped up a notch this month after a delegation from the Emerald Isle visited the city. The March 7 and 8 visit led by Lord Mayor of Dublin Oisín Quinn looked to build on the “digital friendship agreement” signed by the two cities last year.
After meeting with his Guadalajara counterpart, Quinn joined with representatives of the local business community to bang the drum for the Dublin-Mexico business conference that he will host in May that seeks to promote Dublin as a gateway to Europe for Mexican businesses.
During a 13-day mission, the Irish delegation also made stops in Mexico City and Dublin’s sister city, San Jose, regarded as the “capital” of California’s Silicon Valley.
In October last year, Irish President Michael Higgins made a state visit to this country and urged Mexican companies to consider reciprocating investments by Irish companies in Mexico. According to the Irish Times, Irish companies in Mexico now include Glanbia, Kerry Group, Randox Laboratories and Irelandia Investments, the latter the investment arm of the Ryan family, founders of low-cost airline Ryanair. Ireland’s is now Mexico’s 19th largest trading partnership, which represents more than one billion euros, or about 1.4 billion dollars, worth of trade.