This article was originally shared on Orlando Business Journal’s website on May 21, 2025 and is republished here with permission from the publisher.

Story Highlights

• Ireland offers strong pro-business environment for global expansion.
• New Honorary Irish Consul in Orlando connects businesses to Ireland.
• Ireland boasts young, educated workforce with high STEM graduate rates.

Is your business ready to expand into the global market? Here are five reasons you might want to look to Ireland.

Florida and Ireland already share strong ties. In 2023, bilateral merchandise trade totaled over $1.5 billion, making Ireland Florida’s sixth-largest bilateral merchandise trading partner in Europe. Central Florida businesses looking to expand globally would be wise to take advantage of the support and market that Ireland offers.

The opening of a new Honorary Irish Consul office in Orlando in March provides businesses with a direct connection. While primarily charged with providing consular support to Irish citizens living in the area and those visiting, the Honorary Irish Consul also works closely with two business development organizations – Enterprise Ireland, to support Irish businesses entering global markets such as Central Florida, and IDA Ireland, which helps businesses navigate Ireland’s business landscape for expansion and investment there. From general advice and network of contacts, IDA Ireland can assist with investment opportunities and resources.

Ireland has a strong pro-business environment. Ireland consistently ranks among the top countries in the world in which to do business. It is the fourth most competitive economy in the European Union (EU) and the 12^th globally. It is ranked third globally for high-value foreign direct investment (FDI) projects. Finally, Ireland is considered one of the most efficient places to set up a company globally. Unlike other EU jurisdictions that may take weeks, Ireland allows businesses to establish their entities within three to five business days. It also boasts a consistent, open, and progressive tax regime.

Ireland’s workforce is educated and young. If your business requires a skilled labor force, more than 60% of Irish people aged 23-34 have a college-level education. In addition, just over a third of the population is 25 or younger, making Ireland Europe’s youngest workforce. It also has the highest level of STEM graduates per capita in the EU among 20- to 29-year-olds and holds a higher percentage of college-level education compared to the EU average (55.4% vs 39.4%).

Ireland is a prime location to expand and then scale up. Once a business has expanded into Ireland, it has access to the rest of the EU market. Starting in Ireland makes sense for U.S. companies because it is the only English-speaking country in the EU. In addition, companies can enjoy the benefits of the EU Single Market for goods, services, capital and movement of people. IDA Ireland supports multinational companies to innovate in Ireland, including through R&D and training, innovation diagnostics supports and introduction to the Irish R&D ecosystem.

Traveling to Ireland has never been easier. With tens of thousands of Irish tourists visiting Florida each year and nearly 34,000 traveling to Orlando in 2023, there are plenty of flights connecting Orlando and the Emerald Isle. Aer Lingus flies six nonstop and eight connecting flights weekly from Dublin to Central Florida. As transatlantic travel continues to surge, that number is expected to grow.

With ties stronger than ever, now is a good time to take a closer look at what Ireland has to offer businesses looking to expand.

 Patrick Delaney, a partner at RumbergerKirk, is the new Honorary Irish Consul in Orlando. For Honorary Irish Consul services, appointments can be scheduled by emailing  patrick.delaney@honoraryconsul.ie or calling 407-839-4532.