Tánaiste Leo Varadkar leads Enterprise Ireland Trade Mission to Farnborough International Air Show

• Tánaiste will meet with senior executives from Airbus, and Boeing International
• Irish aerospace cluster Emerald Aero Group signs MOU with global aircraft engineering consulting and services provider Hummingbird Aero
• Mission highlights value that Enterprise Ireland’s clients bring to the global aviation and aerospace industry

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar, today leads a trade mission to the UK to visit the Farnborough International Air Show, as the show returns after a four-year absence.

With aviation having faced particular challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Tánaiste’s visit to Farnborough provides the opportunity for the industry, and many of Ireland’s 250 companies active in the aviation and aerospace sectors, to reconnect and showcase their innovations and commitment to the industry. When the show was last held in 2018, it saw more than $192 billion worth of deals completed.

The trade mission coincides with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Emerald Aero Group (EAG) and global aircraft engineering consulting and services provider Hummingbird Aero. EAG is a cluster of 11 Irish aerospace companies who collectively deliver precision engineering, plastics moulding, tooling, 3D printing, fabrication, surface treatment, thermoforming, and multi-axis CNC milling and turning.

During the visit, the Tánaiste will also meet members of the Irish consortium that has been awarded the Eurocontrol SESAR3 programme for funding to build an unmanned aviation ecosystem in Shannon. The consortium includes Avtrain, Collins Aerospace, Future Mobility Campus Ireland, and other partners.

Irish companies Airtel ATN, A-TechSYN, Avtrain, Emerald Aerospace Group (EAG) and Shannon Airport Group will be exhibiting at the Enterprise Ireland Pavilion at the show.

The trade mission schedule includes:

• Meeting with Spirit AeroSystems, one of the world's largest manufacturers of aerostructures for commercial aircraft, defence platforms, and business and regional jets
• Meetings with senior executives from Airbus and Boeing International
• Roundtable lunch with key industry representatives from ADS NI Group, Aerospace Wales Forum, GKN Aerospace, North-West Aerospace Alliance, and Space Wales
• Attendance at the ‘Morocco Now’ Pavilion where the Tánaiste will meet Moroccan Minister for Industry and Trade H.E. Mr Ryad Mezzour to discuss opportunities for Irish aero sub-suppliers
• Reception at the Enterprise Ireland Pavilion which will be attended by Welsh Minister for Economy, Minister Vaughan Gething

Commenting on the commencement of the trade mission, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said, “I’m really happy to be here at the Farnborough Air Show today. The aviation and aerospace sector employs 42,000 people here, with the industry providing a value of €4.1 billion to the Irish economy. So it’s really important to our overall economic success and this Air Show is a great opportunity to showcase our offering, form new relationships and hopefully grow business. The past couple of years have been incredibly tough for the sector but the resilience and talent of the Irish businesses represented here is inspiring. We will continue to back Irish businesses to compete and win on a global stage.”

Tom Kelly, Divisional Manager - Industrial and Life Sciences at Enterprise Ireland, said, “Many of Enterprise Ireland’s client companies are at the forefront of essential capabilities and services for aviation and aerospace, including MRO, leasing, precision engineering, air traffic management, unmanned aerial vehicles, training and international consulting. At Farnborough today, we are looking forward to connecting these companies with global opportunities across traditional areas of expertise, but also looking to the future in terms of new modes of mobility and creating the sustainable aviation solutions of the future.”

ENDS