Commonwealth of Massachusetts
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ONE ASHBURTON PLACE, ROOM 2101
BOSTON, MA 02108
https://www.mass.gov/eoed
MAURA T. HEALEY TELEPHONE
GOVERNOR (617) 788-3610
KIMBERLEY DRISCOLL FACSIMILE
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR (617) 788-3605
YVONNE HAO
SECRETARY
Massachusetts-Ireland Trade Commission 2024 Annual Report
Section 42 of Chapter 140 of the Acts of 2024 (“Authorizing Statute”)
established the Massachusetts-Ireland Trade Commission (“Commission”) within the
Massachusetts Office of International Trade and Investment (“MOITI”).
Pursuant to Section 13V of the Authorizing Statute, the Commission’s mission
is to "evaluate the economic interests of, and review ways to strengthen the relationship
between, the commonwealth and the Republic of Ireland. The Commission shall study,
research, analyze and make recommendations related to: (i) bilateral trade and
investments between the commonwealth and the Republic of Ireland; (ii) policy issues
of interest to the commonwealth; (iii) business and academic exchanges between the
commonwealth and the Republic of Ireland; (iv) mutual economic support; (v)
investments in the infrastructure of the commonwealth and Republic of Ireland; (vi) the
creation of economic and educational opportunities for aid to communities in the
commonwealth and the Republic of Ireland; and (vii) other related issues as the
commission deems necessary.”
The Commission is required by the Authorizing Statute to annually submit a
report to the Legislature that describes its findings, together with recommendations for
any legislation, to the governor, the clerks of the house of representatives and the
senate and the chairs of the joint committee on economic development and emerging
technologies.
Activities Taken to Support the Massachusetts-Ireland Trade Commission:
• MOITI conducted research and discovered that Ireland was Massachusetts’ 7th
largest trading partner with over $3.5 billion worth of goods exchanged in 2023.
o In 2023, top export products from Massachusetts to Ireland included (i)
pharmaceutical products; (ii) industrial machinery; and (iii) medical /
surgical equipment – totaling over $756 million.
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 o In 2023, top import products from Ireland to Massachusetts included: (i)
orthopedic parts; (ii) medical equipment; and (iii) industrial filters – totaling
over $2.7 billion.
• MOITI held an initial strategy discussion with EOED staff to:
o Determine frequency of meetings;
o Discuss potential regional location sites;
o Inquire about guest speakers who can discuss Irish American affairs; and
o Process to identify potential gubernatorial appointees to the Commission.
Other Activities Taken to Support the Massachusetts-Ireland Trade:
• June 2023 --- Governor’s Visit to Ireland Last Year
o This trip was an important opportunity to establish and grow relationships
with Irish business, technology, clean energy and education leaders, to
discuss strategies that will further economic development and partnership
between Ireland and Massachusetts, and to advocate for why Irish
companies should expand activities here. There are many synergies
between Ireland and Massachusetts when it comes to investment in
workforce, education and technology, in addition to proximity, which
together make for a great opportunity for business development. The trip
was also an opportunity to highlight what the Governor believes is a key
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aspect of Massachusetts’ competitiveness – our commitment to protecting
civil rights and freedom, particularly for the LGBTQIA+ community.
▪ Some results include:
• Irish firm ProNAV Clinical expanded operations to the
Cambridge Innovation Center.
• A meeting with Irish universities inspired the Healey-Driscoll
Administration to set up a clean energy program that
establishes the Clean Energy & Environment Legacy
Transition (CELT) initiative, a collaborative resource center
across universities (led by UMass Lowell and Boston
University), industry, the Department of Energy Resources
(DOER), and community partners. CELT is designed to
prioritize equity within the implementation of the state’s
comprehensive portfolio of clean energy and climate
initiatives and to leverage resources to amplify outcomes.
Specifically, CELT will:
o Advance state and municipal initiatives on equitable
decarbonization through data-driven decision support
o Enhance state and municipal capacity to secure and
execute geothermal energy transition projects
o Support the growth of a diverse geothermal workforce
that tackles existing demographic imbalances
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• October 31, 2023 --- Governor Healey and MOITI Director Ramapriya met with
the new Irish Consul General Sighle FitzGerald and her team to welcome her in
her new role.
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• February 1, 2024 --- At the request of the Irish Consul General, Governor Healey
issued a Governor’s Citation acknowledging St. Brigid’s Day on Feb. 1st. The
Patroness Saint of Ireland, St. Brigid’s Day (Lá Fhéile Bríde) is celebrated to
symbolize hope, renewal and the remarkable contribution women have made,
and continue to make, across the world. The Citation was presented at a St.
Brigid’s Day event hosted by the Irish Consulate.
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• February 16, 2024 --- MOITI hosted a meeting with Minister Simon Harris, T.D.,
then-Minister of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation, and
Science, along with Ruairi O’Mahony, Executive Director of the Rist Institute for
Sustainability and Energy at UMass Lowell where we discussed Massachusetts /
Ireland trade and opportunities to work together, particularly on climatetech (e.g.,
MassCELT).
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• March 2024 --- Governor Healey met with then-Taoiseach Leo Varadkar,
Ireland’s Ambassador to the United States Geraldine Byrne Nason, and Consul
General Sighle FitzGerald as part of the 2024 St Patrick’s Day visit to Boston
where they discussed the Governor’s Irish heritage and building close links in life
sciences and climate tech between Massachusetts and Ireland.
• May 2024 --- Massachusetts Life Sciences Center Acting CEO Jeanne LeClair
traveled to Ireland to meet with the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research
and Training to learn about their workforce development initiatives.
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• July 2024 --- Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao and MOITI
Director Ramapriya met with Irish Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and
Employment, The Hon. Peter Burke, T.D., Consul General FitzGerald, along with
executives from Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland to discuss trade between
Massachusetts and Ireland.
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