04 Oct Rhode Island Trade Mission to Ireland
September 23, 2017 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian and Rhode Island
Business Executives Conclude Seven Day,
Eight County Trade Mission to Ireland
Cumberland and Lincoln Companies Met
with Current and Former Prime Ministers,
Cabinet Members, Industry Leaders and CEOs
KNOCK, COUNTY MAYO, IRELAND – Last evening Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian and Rhode Island business executives concluded a trade mission to Ireland that resulted in visits to eight counties – Cork, Clare, Galway, Dublin, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo and Mayo – in seven days and more than 50 meetings with national and county government leaders, three international airports, industry associations and CEOs. The trade mission was sponsored by Rhode Island Commerce Corporation and Bryant University.
Rhode Island company executives – Joseph Iovini, Vice President, Dean Warehouse Services, a supply chain logistics providers with four million sq. ft. of warehousing in the U.S. based in Cumberland; Roy Coulombe, CEO, Royal Advisors and Consultants to on- and off-shore wind projects based in Lincoln; and, Richard Pinto, CEO, and JR Pagliarini, President, Fabiani Pinto LLC, a Providence-based international business development firm that conceived and manages the Ireland West International Trade Centre in Providence and the Rhode Island Trade & Tourism Center in Castlebar, County Mayo – accompanied the mayor.
The highlights of the trade mission include:
- discussed business, trade, food and energy policy and development with current and former Irish Prime Ministers Leo Varadker and Enda Kenny; Minister of State for Trade, Employment and Business and EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection Pat Breen; Minister of Communications, Climate Action and Environment Denis Naughten; and, Minister of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed;
- attended Ireland’s 96th annual National Ploughing Championships in Offaly, Europe’s largest outdoor event with more than 1,500 agriculture, food, machinery, manufacturing, finance and energy company exhibits – met with Irish Food Board CEO Tara McCarthy and Irish Farmer’s Association President Joe Healy.
- engaged in discussions with CEOs from more than 20 Irish businesses looking to enter the U.S. market and promoted Warwick as the ideal location to set up their operations;
- planning sessions with officials and board members from Cork Airport, Shannon Airport in Clare, and Ireland West Airport Knock in Mayo to develop cargo business with TF Green Airport, and secure Norwegian Air flights between Green and Knock airports.
- launched the Rhode Island Trade & Tourism Center in Castlebar, the capital of County Mayo, with Richard Finn, Mayo of County Mayo, former Prime Minister Enda Kenny, along with Mayo, Sligo and Roscommon local enterprise office heads and business leaders. The Rhode Island Trade & Tourism Center, housed in the 10,000-sq. foot U.S. Innovation Showroom, is a “speed to market” landing spot for Rhode Island companies looking to enter the 28-country member European Union market via Ireland with a ready-to-go international office address, and product and work space facilitated by local Irish government and commercial sales representatives. The Center is a mirror bookend to the Ireland West International Trade Centre in Providence for Irish companies entering the U.S. market via Rhode Island launched May 24 by Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza and Irish government officials.
Quotes –
Joseph Iovini, Vice President, Dean Warehouse Services, Cumberland:
“Dean Warehouse Services is very excited to have been part of the Rhode Island Trade Mission to Ireland. The synergies that have been created and developed will provide opportunities for additional trade, commerce and tourism while being a vehicle for many small to mid-size companies to grow and expand their markets in both directions,” said Joseph Iovini. “This East-West collaboration will promote idea sharing and innovation along with long lasting partnerships. We look forward to being able to assist on a variety of global and domestic supply chain initiatives which will add value in our strategic role as a consultative third party logistics provider.”
Roy Coulombe, CEO, Royal Advisors & Consultants, Lincoln:
“The trip was one week of nonstop meetings with government leaders and business executives from all over Ireland. The similarities between Ireland and Rhode Island are very enlightening and I see great opportunities to do real business between the two locations. I was particularly excited to meet a half dozen of leading government policy and planning, and business leaders on- and off-shore wind projects,” said Lincoln’s Ray Coulombe. “There are real opportunities to connect Block Island’s off-shore wind farm and the upcoming Massachusetts and New York off-shore projects with Ireland’s wind farm strategy.”
Joseph Iovini meeting Ireland’s Prime Minister Leo Varadker at Leinster House in Dubli, seat of Ireland’s national government. Energy Minister Denis Naughten is back left, Roy Coulombe, back center, and JR Pagliarini, President, Fabiani Company, look on. Varadker is a medical doctor and was elected PM June 2, 2017.
The Rhode Island Trade & Tourism Center, based in the U.S. Innovation Showroom, is located at 55 Ellison Street in Castlebar, the capital of County Mayo. The 10,000-sq. ft. historic building was constructed in 1838 and is thought to be the last home of General George O’Malley whose statue is across the street on the grounds of the Protestant Christ Church.