The US–Ireland Economic Partnership: Powering America’s Digital Future and Creating Jobs from Virginia to Kentucky

Photo caption: L–R: Niamh Gallagher, AWS Country Lead, Ireland, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Jenny Melia, CEO of Enterprise Ireland, Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason, Irish Ambassador to the United States

On the eve of St. Patrick’s Day, Amazon and Enterprise Ireland convene senior U.S. and Irish business leaders in Washington D.C. to celebrate a two-way partnership that is delivering data centre innovation, manufacturing investment and jobs across America - from Virginia to Kentucky

WASHINGTON, D.C./DUBLIN: Amazon and Enterprise Ireland, the Government of Ireland’s trade and innovation agency, today co-hosted a landmark breakfast event at the Du Pont Hotel, Washington D.C., bringing together senior Irish and American business leaders to celebrate the depth and ambition of the US–Ireland economic partnership. The event was attended by An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Ambassador Edward S. Walsh, U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason, Ambassador of Ireland to the United States and senior leadership from Amazon and Enterprise Ireland. 

Irish companies that have collaborated with Amazon on data centre construction in Ireland and globally are now investing directly in the United States, creating jobs and expanding operations across multiple states. CEL Critical Power invested $40 million to open a 400,000 sq. ft. manufacturing plant in Williamsburg, Virginia in 2025, creating 250 high-skilled jobs with plans to reach 500 employees by 2030. H&MV Engineering, a recipient of the AWS Horizon Award in 2024, has expanded its U.S. operations, delivering the high-voltage electrical infrastructure that connects data centres to national power grids. Midland Steel has secured an exclusive licensing agreement with Nucor, the largest steel producer and recycler in the U.S., with their FasterFix solution reducing onsite build times by up to 75% and labour requirements by 80%.

Speaking at the event, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: "The US–Ireland economic partnership is one of the most dynamic and mutually beneficial relationships in the world today. Amazon's investment in Ireland, more than €22 billion over two decades, has created thousands of jobs and made Ireland a global hub for cloud and digital infrastructure. In turn, Irish companies are now investing billions in the United States, creating jobs from Virginia to Kentucky and embedding themselves into the fabric of American industry. What we are celebrating today is a partnership that has strengthened Amazon's success globally and accelerated the growth of Irish companies on the world stage. That is what a true economic partnership looks like, and it is delivering for both our countries."

A Partnership Built on Two-Way Investment

Amazon has invested more than €22 billion in Ireland over two decades, employing around 6,500 people across major operations in Dublin and Cork. Since 2004, Amazon has opened six sites across the country, including a fulfilment centre in Dublin’s Baldonnell Business Park, delivery stations in Ballycoolin, data centres, and two corporate offices in Cork and Dublin. In total, Amazon employs around 6,500 people in Ireland across Amazon and AWS. Amazon’s Project Fastnet, its first wholly owned transatlantic subsea fibre optic cable connecting Maryland and County Cork, is set to become operational in 2028. Amazon recently launched Amazon.ie, bringing hundreds of millions of products to Irish customers.

Irish investment in the United States has reached record levels. Leading Irish companies have committed to over $6 billion in capital investment in the U.S. through 2030, with the top 10 Irish employers already supporting over 125,000 direct jobs in the U.S. and hundreds of thousands of indirect roles across the country. Irish companies are deeply embedded in U.S. supply chains, collectively spending billions of dollars on U.S. goods and services each year. That industrial commitment is reflected in U.S. manufacturing figures. In 2024, Ireland accounted for more manufacturing employees in the U.S. than any other country, with 43,100 jobs, a distinction that underscores Ireland's focus on productive, long-term investment in communities across America.

Addressing the event, David Zapolsky, Chief Global Affairs & Legal Officer, Amazon, said: “The cloud is steel and switchgear. It is precision power systems. It is advanced cooling, logistics, and construction delivered at extraordinary scale. Irish companies helped us build in Ireland. And are now helping us build globally. Amazon remains deeply committed to Ireland’s future. This reflects our confidence in Ireland as a long-term partner and our determination to continue building, innovating, and growing together.”

Delivering the closing remarks, Jenny Melia, CEO of Enterprise Ireland, said: "The collaboration between Amazon and Irish companies has had an immense impact. Irish high-tech construction companies bring world-class capabilities in power systems, modular construction, sustainable building solutions and low-carbon construction methods that are setting new standards for data centre delivery globally. That expertise is translating into significant job creation across America, with the top ten Irish employers supporting over 125,000 Americans and Irish companies committing to billions of dollars in U.S. capital investment over the coming years to 2030."

Irish Companies Powering America’s Data Centre Boom

Ireland’s High-Tech Construction sector has grown at 22.5% annually over the last five years, making it the fastest-growing sector across all Enterprise Ireland-supported industries. Comprising over 180 companies, employing more than 35,000 people, and delivering €4.7 billion in global exports in 2024. Data centre-related activities alone account for €2.1 billion of those exports.

AWS investment has enabled the expansion of over 500 Irish suppliers, who have secured hundreds of millions of euros in overseas contracts and are exporting to more than 28 countries worldwide.

CEL Critical Power invested $40 million to open a 400,000 sq. ft. manufacturing plant in Williamsburg, Virginia in 2025, creating 250 high-skilled jobs with plans to reach 500 employees by 2030. The company specialises in high-density modular power distribution and ‘Power Pods’ that integrate real-time energy monitoring to support AI-scale and cloud infrastructure.

H&MV Engineering was awarded the AWS Horizon Award in 2024. The Limerick-based firm builds the heavy-duty electrical systems that connect data centres to national power grids, using pre-built modular substations to accelerate deployment timelines and reduce long-term energy costs.

Midland Steel secured an exclusive licensing agreement with Nucor, the largest steel producer and recycler in the US. Midland Steel’s FasterFix solution reduces onsite build times by up to 75% and labour requirements by 80%, while leveraging Nucor’s recycling network for a fully circular supply chain.

Investing in Regional America: The Kentucky Story

Amazon has invested more than $60 billion in Kentucky since 2010, helping support over 50,000 indirect jobs across construction, logistics and professional services. Kentucky has been part of Amazon’s story since 1999 and is today one of the most important transportation hubs in its U.S. network, anchored by the air hub at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

Irish companies have made a sustained commitment to investment in rural and regional America, including Kentucky, bringing high-quality employment to regional communities. This includes renovation of vacant brownfield sites, former industrial properties transformed into modern, high-spec manufacturing facilities, delivering economic regeneration while minimising environmental impact.

Portwest, the Mayo-headquartered global manufacturer of workwear and PPE, operates its North American distribution centre in Shepherdsville, Kentucky, enabling same-day or next-day delivery to 60% of the U.S. population. The company employs over 4,500 people worldwide and sells to customers across the United States, including through Amazon’s marketplace.

Kingspan, a global leader in insulation and building solutions, employs 2,700 people across 32 sites in 17 U.S. states and is actively expanding in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Virginia, Maryland, Texas, Illinois and Kentucky, consistently targeting rural locations and brownfield sites for redevelopment.

Kingspan’s U.S. subsidiary Tate provides mission-critical data centre systems, including modular aisle containment, airflow management and liquid-cooling technologies. Tate recently announced a $62.1 million investment in a new facility in Barren County, Kentucky, creating 400 manufacturing jobs, the largest jobs announcement the county had seen in 18 years.

Ashli Watts, President & CEO of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, joined the event panel to discuss how Irish companies are strengthening regional economies and supporting workforce development across the Bluegrass State. Nucor’s $1.7 billion steel facility in Brandenburg, Kentucky, a key partner in Midland Steel’s U.S. expansion, further demonstrates the depth of Irish–American industrial collaboration across the state.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Marika MacCarvill, Senior Communications Manager – Ireland & International, Enterprise Ireland

marika.maccarvill@enterprise-ireland.com / +353 86 171 2568

Kevin Sammon, Head of Communications, Amazon - kevsammo@amazon.com

Notes to Editors

Sources for Manufacturing Jobs in the U.S. 

New Foreign Direct Investment in the United States, 2024 | U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)

About Enterprise Ireland

Enterprise Ireland is the Irish Government trade and innovation agency responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in world markets. Enterprise Ireland supports Irish companies to start, grow, innovate and win export sales in global markets, thereby creating jobs and sustaining economic growth. Enterprise Ireland has 42 international offices, including 7 in the U.S., helping Irish companies enter and scale international markets and work with international companies to source world-class Irish delivery partners. www.enterprise-ireland.com

About Amazon in Ireland

Since 2004, we have opened six Amazon sites across the country, including a fulfilment centre (FC) in Dublin’s Baldonnell Business Park, delivery stations in Ballycoolin, data centres, and two corporate offices in Cork and Dublin. In total, we employ around 6,500 people in Ireland across Amazon and AWS. Amazon’s Project Fastnet, its first wholly owned transatlantic subsea fibre optic cable connecting Maryland and County Cork, is set to become operational in 2028. Amazon recently launched Amazon.ie, bringing hundreds of millions of products to Irish customers