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The Western Development Commission (WDC) has launched a new initiative
as part of its LookWest.ie programme to help enterprises export their
products and services to the Greater Philadelphia and Mid-Atlantic
Region in the United States (US). The initiative will help business
owners and entrepreneurs from the West to exploit opportunities for
expansion in the potentially lucrative US market while retaining the
talent and employment in the region. It is also expected that the
initiative will see increased employment as a result of the growth in
exports. Details of the initiative were outlined recently to an audience of
business owners and entrepreneurs from the Western Region at a
workshop held in association with The Innovation Centre at IT Sligo. Joanne Grehan of the WDC said: “The programme has a two-fold approach;
firstly, assisting companies expand into the US market and, secondly,
promoting the Western Region as a location for enterprise to companies
in the US who wish to expand their operations internationally. The
WDC is working closely with the noted Philadelphia-based accounting
firm Maguire Hegarty LLC who have specific expertise in this area.
They will act in an ambassadorial role for the WDC by building links
between companies in the Greater Philadelphia Area and the Western
Region. She added: “Maguire Hegarty specialises in assisting companies wishing
to explore the United States as part of their business plan. Their
expertise includes tax management, accounting and management
consultancy. Paul Maguire and Liam Hegarty outlined to the audience
how Irish companies can tap into the US as a market for their products
or as a source of investment”. Ms Grehan explained that the new initiative is part of the WDC’s
ongoing programme of developing and nurturing relationships with the
Irish Diaspora with the aim of increasing inward investment into the
Western Region. “The Irish Diaspora is a valuable asset to the Western
Region and we want to strengthen links between highly successful
expatriates and the innovative businesses and projects operating in
the Western Region” she said. Ms Grehan concluded: “We plan to organise another workshop over the
coming months to inform businesses about the opportunities that exist."  Pictured at the event was Back Row: (l-r) Enda Madden of GroupNos, William J.Hegarty - Maguire Hegarty LLC, Paul G.Maguire - Maguire Hegarty LLC, Niall McEvoy - Head of Innovation - IT Sligo. Front Row (l-r) Hilary McPartland, Janette Gillen - Business Development Manager - Innovation Centre, Joanne Grehan, Regional Development Executive - Western Development Commission. Photo:SligoToday.ie
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