Ireland - China Magazine Autumn 2019

The Official Magazine of the Ireland-China Business Association
IRELAND-CHINA
B U S I N E S S M A G A Z I N E
CONNECTING THE CONNECTED IN CHINA & IRELAND
6
GOING GLOBAL
Dundalk welcomes WuXi Biologics
THROUGH THE DECADES
Celebrating 40 years of Sino-Irish links
CÉAD MÍLE FÁILTE
Welcoming new Chinese Ambassador He Xiangdong
REELING IN THE YEARS
Key developments in Sino-Irish ties
also in this issue: CONNECTIONS WITH IRELAND 6 CHINA’S BIGGEST COMPANIES
6 INTERVIEW WITH CHINESE AMBASSADOR 6 IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

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Ireland-China Business Magazine
CONTENTS
8| Through the decades
ICBA marks 40 years of
Sino-Irish links
58| The Power of Partnership
The evolution of Integrated
Project Services
98| Education Matters
The multi-award winning
Mary immaculate College
12| Shared Tastes
Agri-food exports to China
quadruple
62| High Achievers
Wills Bros: New horizons
for WuXi.
101| TU Dublin
A new university for a
changing world
16| Trade Forum
ICBA forum aims to
strengthen trade links
19| ICBA News
News and events from the
ICBA
24| Optimism Reins
Survey shows high
confidence in China
27| Diplomacy in Action
Ambassador He Xiangdong
toasts a growing friendship
31| Buying Irish
Surge in Chinese
investment in Ireland
34| Building on the Past
Key developments in 40
years of Sino-Irish ties
38| Rich Rewards
Harnessing the Immigrant
Investor Programme (IIP)
42| Lucky in Louth
Easy access to talent and
infrastructure
46| Going Global
Dundalk welcomes Wuxi
52| Engineers of Choice
In praise of Jacobs
Engineering
56| Steel Solutions
KSSL: A headline act in the
steel industry
64| ABEC - Team Players
Wuxi teams up with ABEC
66| Teambuilding
Asset Recruitment - talent
spotters
68| Note of Optimism
European companies plan
expansion in China
70| Opportunity Knocks
Bord Bia looks east
74| New Frontiers
An exciting chapter for
BNP Paribas
78| The Ties that Bind
Complementarities drive
China and Ireland closer
82| Making Connections
Crowley Millar –
connecting Ireland and
China
84| Legal Matters
The lowdown on EU
Securitisation Regulation
88| Follow the Law
Contracts in China
90| A Matter of Trust
Safeguard your wealth
93| Making Friends
Cork Cultivates China
96| Sligo Life
A great place to live, invest
& visit
104| Logistics trends
Kuehne + Nagel focus on
future trade
107| Get Connected
Go Global from Dublin
Airport Central
110| Property Solutions
Maximising value with
BV Commercial
112| DHL Go Green
Towards zero-emissions
logistics by 2050
114| Fly Your Dreams
Award-winning Hainan
Airlines
116| Travel Planner
Zatino Ltd branches out
118| Tourism Report
Cead mile China
124| Luxury in Limerick
Savoy Hotel roll out the red
carpet for Chinese guests
128 High Brow Shopping
Chinese shoppers flock to
Brown Thomas
130| Anniversary of an Icon
Weir & Sons celebrate
150 years
132| The Legendary Claddagh
The iconic symbol of love,
loyalty and friendship
135| ‘Water of Life’
The Story of Irish Whiskey
Ireland-China Business Magazine
Published in conjunction with Devlin Media
Managing Editor
Tommy Quinn
tommy@devlinmedia.org
Sales
Helen Fairbrother
Paul Halley
Martin O’Halloran
Linda Hickey
Tony Doyle
Travel Editor
Trish Phelan
Production Manager
Joanne Punch
Art & Administration Manager
Elaine Harley
Design
Minx Design
ruth@minxdesign.ie
Whilst every effort has been made to make the information contained herein as comprehensive and accurate as possible the publishers accept no responsibility for additions,
omissions or errors. No part of this publication can be copied or produced without the editor’s consent in writing.
7

Ireland-China Business Association
A
Success Story
Two thousand and nineteen marks the 40th anniversary of Sino-Irish
diplomatic relations this juncture serves as a good opportunity to take a look at
how this relationship has developed and flourished to date and the opportunities and
challenges that lie ahead. Caroline Devlin, Partner, Co-Chair, Aviation Group,
Arthur Cox and Chair of Ireland China Business Association
charts the evolution of Sino-Irish relations.
There is no denying the success story
that is the growth of Irish China business
relations over the past decade. A strong
mutually beneficial business relationship
has developed between our small nation
and the Chinese mainland, particularly
in areas such as aviation, agriculture and
food and technology companies. In 2018,
partnerships worth €50m between Irish
businesses, which were backed by the
Irish state economic development agency,
Enterprise Ireland, and Chinese partners
were announced in the healthcare,
skincare, medtech and diagnostics sectors.
At a time when the beef industry in
Ireland is under threat from Brexit
uncertainties, exports of Irish beef to
China commenced during the summer
2018. According to Irish trade statistics,
Ireland exported approximately €2.8m
and 1,400 tonnes of beef to China in 2018.
In addition, there has been a reported surge
in investment in recent months which may
be influenced by political and economic
tensions in other jurisdictions. This is
evidenced by €1,041m in exports to China
reported by the Irish Central Statistics
Office from January to February 2019.
So what have been the factors which
have supported the growth in business
relations?
Ireland, the land of a thousand
welcomes, has always prided itself
on providing a flexible and efficient
structure for doing business. The process
of incorporating a company in Ireland is
straight-forward and once the decision
is taken to establish, a company can be
set up in under a week. No approvals
or licences are required to commence
business, the company can start its first
trade immediately.
The Irish legal system promotes
substance in Ireland, and a least one
director of an Irish company should
be a European Economic Area (EEA)
resident. Moreover, Ireland progressively
requires Irish companies to demonstrate
substance in Ireland, recognising
Ireland’s adherence to the Base Erosion
and Profit Shifting (BEPS) strategies by
the OCDE. Therefore, it is expected that
the company will have sufficient activity
in Ireland, evidenced by engaging fulltime
suitably experienced personnel
engaged in the direction, management
and operation of the company. This
movement into substance should be
viewed an ongoing project. Typically an
enterprise establishing itself will start
small, often outsourcing many functions,
and over time bringing them in house.
Ireland has a strong, capable and skilled
workforce, which benefits the growing
number of companies establishing in
Ireland. Personal income tax rates are
however quite high, and industry groups
in Ireland have targeted this with the
Irish Government as an area where
improvement would be welcomed to
8

Ireland-China Business Association
Arthur Cox Head Office, Dublin
continue to encourage top executives to
Ireland. For those coming to Ireland from
outside the EU, visas are readily available
although it is recommended that these be
obtained several weeks in advance.
The Irish tax regime is one of Ireland’s
main attractions for companies. Irish
companies have access to an extensive
double tax treaty network of 74 treaties
to date, with more currently being
negotiated. The treaties enable rent and
interest to be paid free from withholding
tax in the originating country. In the
aviation industry, increasingly airlines
are focused on the substance of the lessor
as a key factor to the lessee obtaining
treaty access, and Irish companies are
well placed to satisfy this requirement.
Ireland offers a highly competitive
headline corporation tax rate of 12.5%
applying to active trading profits and
most inbound dividends, being one of
the lowest “onshore” statutory corporate
tax rates in the world. The effective tax
rate is however lower, when the available
deductions and allowances are factored
in. Also, Irish holding companies benefit
from a participation exemption from
capital gains tax on the ultimate disposal
of most shareholdings.
Ireland has also become a leading
9

Ireland-China Business Association
jurisdiction for the establishment of
special purpose vehicles (SPV) for
structured finance transactions. In
particular, Section 110 of the Irish Taxes
Consolidation Act 1997 (TCA) permits
certain SPVs to engage in a wide list of
financial and leasing transactions in a
tax neutral manner when the SPV is
involved in the holding or management
of ‘financial assets’ that, given its broad
definition under the TCA, covers mostly
all type of assets (with the exception of
direct holdings of real estate).
With English being the main language
spoken, Ireland holds a great advantage
over its pair Euro-zone countries.
It permits a fluid communication in
and out the company and gives more
participation and understanding to
multinationals interested in investing in
Ireland. Particularly when negotiating
and dealing with global counterparties,
English represents a key advantage since
it gives an even ground for trade.
Similar to the United Kingdom and the
United States, Ireland has a common law
system based on judicial precedents. As a
member of the European Union, Ireland
is also bound by EU law and by the
decisions made by the Court of Justice
of the EU. Its legal system is particularly
attractive to creditors since under the
self-help doctrine, it permits parties
to an agreement to enforce their rights
without going to court (for instance,
upon breach of the borrower, a bank
would be allowed to repossess an asset
over which it holds a security under the
terms of the agreement).
Challenges
As with all thriving industries, it is
prudent to keep one eye on the challenges
that are coming down the line.
Introduced in the context of the
OECD BEPS project, the European
Union adopted directives laying down
rules against tax avoidance practices
directly affecting the functioning of the
European internal market (ATAD). ATAD
set out general provisions in relation
to interest limitation rules, controlled
foreign company (CFC) rules, exit tax,
general anti-abuse rule and anti-hybrid
rules to be implemented by all EU
member states in the manner that would
Caroline Devlin
best fit their corporate tax system. The
way in which interest limitation and
anti-hybrid rules will be implemented
in Ireland is of much importance
particularly to Irish aircraft leasing
companies (roughly representing 50% of
the aircraft leasing business worldwide)
that will be required to raise billions of
euros of funding in the coming years in
order to finance their aircraft orders.
Given the potential impact of these rules
on Section 110 securitisation vehicles and
large trading companies headquartered
in Ireland, the Irish government opened
a public consultation on the adoption of
these rules, which closed in January 2019.
In addition, the legal sector is actively
involved in an ongoing engagement with
the Irish authorities in order to contribute
to the details of the implementation and
find the most efficient way to maintain
and grow businesses in Ireland post-ATAD
implementation.
Conclusion
The success of the Irish China business
relations can be attributed to a
culmination of factors which have lead
to an established and prosperous path
of mutually beneficial trade, export
and travel. China and Ireland are more
connected than ever – and while Brexit
will have an impact on Ireland, it has
encouraged stronger relations between
Ireland and China, and with 40 years’
of experience of diplomatic relations,
direct flights and a mutual cultural
appreciation, the Sino Irish experience
will continue to flourish.
“The process of
incorporating a
company in Ireland is
straight-forward and
once the decision is
taken to establish, a
company can be set up
in under a week. No
approvals or licences
are required to
commence business,
the company can
start its first trade
immediately.”
10

NORTH DUBLIN COASTAL VILLAGES
Baily Lighthouse, Howth

Ireland-China Business Association
Agri-Food
Taps into China
Ireland’s agri-food exports to China have increased fourfold in recent years, from
about €200m in 2010 to approximately €800m last year. In advance of his recent
trade visit to China, Michael Creed TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the
Marine discusses the deepening partnership between Ireland and China and the
mutual benefits to be gained from closer cooperation across many areas.
I am delighted to have the opportunity to
contribute to this edition of the Ireland
China Business magazine. This is very
timely given that it is the 20th anniversary
of this publication, the 40th anniversary
of diplomatic relations between China
and Ireland and coincides with my recent
Trade Mission to China on the 12-17 May.
The pursuit and development of new
markets is, of course, an ongoing and
central component of the strategic
development of the Irish agri-food sector,
as evidenced by its placement right at the
centre of Food Wise 2025, the industry’s
strategy for development over the coming
decade. Food Wise 2025 outlines the
huge potential for growth in agri-food
exports to new and emerging markets,
particularly in Asia.
As markets and opportunities go, there
are none bigger than China! And there is
at present a particular need to diversify
our markets and to reduce our reliance on
traditional destinations such as the UK,
against the backdrop of Brexit.
Therefore in April 2017, I outlined a seven
point action plan aimed at increasing
international market access for Irish
food and drink exports. This contained
actions, which are currently being
implemented, across a wide range of areas
in relation to market access and availing
of trade opportunities. In March this year
I launched the ‘Market Access Annual
Report 2018’ which highlights the wide
range of work completed since the launch
of the Action Plan.
One key outcome has been the provision
of an online web portal which provides
information across the major export
sectors of dairy, meat, seafood and
live animals including certification
arrangements, exporter terms and
conditions, and individual country
trading statistics. This is available at
http://www.marketaccess.agriculture.
gov.ie/
In 2018 my Department continued to open
various new markets and to deepen trade
within existing markets for Irish agrifood
exporters. However the undisputed
highlight of all this work was the securing
of access to the Chinese market for Irish
beef. The success of this long-term
collaborative project with the Embassy in
Beijing, the Chinese Embassy in Dublin,
Bord Bia and the meat industry was
recognised with a Civil Service Excellence
and Innovation award in 2018.
Seven Irish beef plants are now approved
to export to mainland China and my
officials are currently working towards
progressing applications for additional
beef plants approvals, in order to increase
Ireland’s ability to supply the market. I am
delighted that this trade has commenced
and that Irish beef is now on sale in China.
Exports of Irish beef commenced in the
summer of 2018 and by the end of 2018
around €2.8 million (1,400 tonnes) had
been exported according to the Irish
Central Statistics Office (CSO). There
is real evidence that Irish companies
are beginning to gain a foothold in the
Chinese market, from which they can
grow and develop further.
12

Ireland-China Business Association
China presents a significant opportunity
for Irish beef. On average Chinese beef
consumption is now 4kg per person
per year. While that may be considered
low when compared to average Irish
consumption, it underlines the potential
for further growth.
Consumer demand for premium
imported beef is forecast to rise
significantly, driven by increasing
urbanisation, higher disposable incomes
and health awareness. The import of
frozen boneless beef, the category for
which Ireland has access, has grown
nine-fold over the last five years. Total
beef imports to China were around
600,000 tonnes in 2016. That is more
than Ireland’s total beef exports to all
markets last year. I firmly believe that
our beef industry can and will compete
effectively in the Chinese market.
2018 also saw the successful
registration renewal of Irish infant milk
manufacturers with China. Given that
dairy exports account for almost €550
million of the overall agri-food exports
to China, and that it is the third largest
destination market for the Irish dairy
sector, this too was a significant result.
Trade missions play an important role
in market development, as we strive to
gain and then develop a presence in as
many global markets as possible. These
missions included participants from
across the agri-food sector and featured
extensive trade contacts as well as highlevel
political discussions.
Michael Creed TD, Minister for Agriculture
I was delighted with my trade mission
to China in May, there was a busy
itinerary which included enjoying Irish
steak while there! The trade mission
presented opportunities for important
meetings, promotional events and both
Government and commercial contacts in
Beijing and Shanghai. Other destinations
in China are being explored at present.
We also hope to try to progress
sheepmeat access to China in 2019 and
that formed part of this trade mission.
It was my third time visiting the country
since I was appointed Minister and I
always consider my visit to that region
as the highlight of my trade mission
itinerary. Last year proved to be no
exception and I was extremely grateful
for the level of access granted to our
delegation by the Chinese authorities.
While there I met with three senior
Ministers and three Vice-Ministers
and, of course, I also attended SIAL
in Shanghai. This year, we made solid
progress on both beef and sheepmeat.
This reflects both the excellent
government to government relationships
developed through intensive engagement
over the past few years; the quality,
safety and sustainability of our beef and
sheepmeat offering; and the enthusiasm
and demand from both Chinese food
businesses and consumer for more Irish
food products.
There is at present
a particular need
to diversify our
markets and to
reduce our reliance
on traditional
destinations such as
the UK, against the
backdrop of Brexit.
13

Ireland-China Business Association
I was very excited to attend this year’s
annual SIAL event in Shanghai, which
has now become one of the world’s
largest food trade exhibitions. SIAL
provides a unique opportunity for Irish
industry to meet and engage with key
buyers, distributors and manufacturers
from China’s food sector. This was my
second time attending and it was another
huge success.
Last year I also witnessed the signing of
a contract between Bord Bia and China
International Import Expo (CIIE) to
confirm Bord Bia’s presence at the CIIE
in November 2018, which my colleague
Minister Andrew Doyle had the honour
of attending. Eleven Irish companies
attended CIIE and exhibited on the Bord
Bia stand. This expo is a welcome addition
to the continuous promotion of Irish food
in China, and I have great confidence that
it will grow to be a major success.
This on-going interaction and deepening
cooperation has been reflected in the
growth of Irish food and drink exports to
China, with approximately €800 million
worth exported in 2018, a nearly fourfold
increase from €200 million in 2010.
However the partnership between
Ireland and China goes far beyond a
transactional, trading arrangement.
Developing and nurturing friendships
and relationships between both countries
is also extremely important. This is
about cooperation at multiple levels.
Political visits in both directions at the
very highest level, technical engagement
between officials in order to provide
assurance on food safety standards, and
a programme of internships for Chinese
officials have all played an important
part in building trust and developing
key relationships. The interns’
programme, in particular, offers practical
opportunities to understand how Ireland
manages its food production system,
from farm to fork. There is now a similar
programme in operation since 2016
which sees Irish officials visit Shanghai.
There is a clear ambition on both sides
to further build co-operation between
Ireland and China on many levels,
including trade, in the future.
Consumer demand for premium imported beef is
forecast to rise significantly, driven by increasing
urbanisation, higher disposable incomes and
health awareness. The import of frozen boneless
beef, the category for which Ireland has access,
has grown nine-fold over the last five years.
sustainable and forward-looking Irish
agri-food sector, and its growing links
with China. This natural synergy between
both our countries will, I believe,
continue to grow and I, for my part, am
proud to play a part in promoting these
links between our countries. To that end I
will continue to foster close relationships
with my Ministerial counterparts in
China and between officials from our
respective administrations in order to
further areas of mutual cooperation
and to advance and facilitate trade and
market access opportunities in China.
Thank you again for giving me this
opportunity to highlight the dynamic,
Michael Creed TD, Minister for Agriculture,
Food and the Marine
14

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Ireland-China Business Association
ICBA Trade
& Investment Forum
ICBA forum aims to boost business links between Ireland and China
Gao Yan chairperson of China Council
for the Promotion of International
Trade (CCPIT), and Caroline Devlin,
chairperson of Ireland China
Business Association (ICBA), signed a
memorandum of understanding on the
cooperation between CCPIT and ICBA
while attending the Ireland-China Trade
and Investment Forum which was held in
Dublin’s InterContinental Hotel on June
24, 2019.
Organized by Ireland China Business
Association(ICBA) and China Council for
the Promotion of International Trade
(CCPIT), the Ireland-China Trade and
Investment Forum was aimed at further
strengthening the business links between
China and Ireland and was attended by
almost 150 business leaders from both
countries.
A six-member delegation headed by
CCPIT Chairperson Gao Yan, a former
Chinese vice minister of commerce
attended the forum while a delegation
comprising representatives from 15
companies from various business circles
of China also participated as well as
representatives from Chinese companies
now operating in Ireland.
Minister of State for Trade, Employment
and Business Pat Breen, former Irish
Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, Chinese
Ambassador to Ireland He Xiangdong and
CCPIT Chairperson Gao Yan addressed
the forum which was hosted by ICBA
Chairperson Caroline Devlin. During the
forum, a memorandum of understanding
on the cooperation between CCPIT and
ICBA was signed by Gao and Devlin.
A panel discussion and a round table
B2B meeting were also arranged during
the forum to help delegates to have a
better understanding of each side’s
business environment and investment
opportunities.
The forum took place as China and
Ireland celebrate the 40th anniversary
of the establishment of diplomatic ties
between the two countries, which took
place on June 22d.
Attendees heard that economic and trade
cooperation between China and Ireland
has developed rapidly over the last forty
years and particularly over the last seven
years following the signing of a mutually
beneficial strategic partnership in 2012.
Chinese Ambassador to Ireland He
Xiangdong told the forum that the
bilateral trade between China and Ireland
amounted to over €14.5bn in 2018 in
comparison to €5.15m in 1979 when the
two countries established diplomatic ties.
16

Ireland-China Business Association
17

Ireland-China Business Association
18

Ireland-China Business Magazine
News
TAKING FLIGHT
About 80,000 people flew between
Dublin and Hong Kong on the service
launched by Cathay Pacific last year,
according to Edward Fotheringham, the
carrier’s regional head of marketing and
sales Europe.
Mr Fotheringham said the performance
was very encouraging. “We’ve had about
80,000 passengers on the route, which
is encouraging, about two million kilos
of Irish goods being sent out to the Far
East, mainly things like seafood and
pharma goods.”
A large number of hi-tech industries at
either end of the route contributes to
passenger numbers. The greater bay
area, including Hong Kong, Macau and
Shenzhen, with a population of 70 million,
is a key centre for IT in the Far East.
About two out of every three passengers
from the Republic are travelling onwards
from Hong Kong to destinations in
Australasia and the Far East that Cathay
Pacific serves from the hub.
Australia and Japan are currently
prime destinations for Irish travellers
and Forward bookings have shown
significant growth which Fotheringham
believes is due to sustainable
commercial traffic between the two
regions rather than a temporary
increase resulting from the Rugby World
Cup which both countries are due to
host this autumn
BUILDING BRIDGES
A high-level conference designed to
strengthen economic ties between China
and Ireland was held in Killashee House
Hotel in County Kildare on Friday June
14th2019.
Sean O’Fearghail, Ceann Comhairle, Dail
Eireann (chairman of the lower house of the
Irish parliament), Chinese Ambassador to
Ireland He Xiangdong, former Irish prime
minister Enda Kenny and former Chinese
vice minister of foreign trade and economic
cooperation Long Yongtu were among the
200 business leaders from both countries
who attended the conference.
Sean O’Fearghail, a native of County
Kildare, extended a warm welcome to the
140-strong delegates who attended from
the different business sectors of China
and said that relations between Ireland
and China are ‘excellent’ and improving all
the time.
“One of the most significant aspects of the
relationship between Ireland and China
has been the number of the incoming
Chinese delegations that we have met in
this country over the last couple of years. In
the last 10 days alone I have met with three
different Chinese visiting groups,” he said.
O’Fearghail added that China’s growing
engagement with Ireland was also
apparent from an increase of over 200%
in Chinese investment in Ireland last year.
In his address Chinese ambassador to
Ireland He Xiangdong said that great
progress has been made in China-Ireland
relations since the establishment of
EXCHANGING CONGRATULATIONS
Chinese President Xi Jinping exchanged
greetings with Irish President Michael D.
Higgins to mark the 40th anniversary of
the establishment of bilateral relations
which took place on June 22 nd .
President XI said the relationship was
developing on the basis of mutual respect
and friendship and both countries stand
to benefit from greater co-operation
and engagement. He said he attaches
considerable importance to advancing the
ties between China and Ireland and stands
ready to make joint efforts with President
Higgins to develop the mutually beneficial
strategic partnership to new levels.
President Higgins said that the pragmatic
cooperation between the countries across
various fields has increased considerably
Killashee House Hotel
diplomatic ties between the two countries in
1979, and particularly over the last decade.
In 2018, the value of the goods trade
between China and Ireland reached 14.5
billion U.S. dollars, more than double
that of 2015, he said, adding that the lift
of the ban on the Irish beef exports to
China last year as well as the opening of
the three direct flight services between
the two countries will serve an impetus to
the further development of the economic
cooperation between the two sides.
Long Yongtu, who is also the co-chairman
of Sino-International Entrepreneurs
Federation (SIEF) which organized the
conference, said that this is the first time
that SIEF has picked Ireland as a venue for
its annual European conferences since the
first of its kind was convened in 2008.
Former Taoiseach Enda Kenny also
addressed the conference which explored
the cooperation opportunities mainly in
the fields of investment, finance, banking,
education and agriculture in the forms of
panel discussions and speeches.
Chinese President Xi Jinping
& President Michael D. Higgins
and Ireland is keen to explore potentials
for further cooperation on safeguarding
multilateralism and other global issues.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Irish
Prime Minister Leo Varadkar also
exchanged messages.
19

Ireland-China Business Magazine
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20

Ireland-China Business Magazine
IRELAND WELCOME CTRIP
Senior managers from China’s largest
online travel agency, Ctrip, enjoyed an
action packed visit to Ireland this week, as
guests of Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland.
Ctrip – headquartered in Shanghai – has
more than 250 million customers.
The aim of the visit was to showcase some
of the many things to see and do in Ireland
for Chinese visitors – and to encourage
Ctrip to extend the Ireland content in the
programmes they offer to the growing
independent traveller sector in Shanghai
and Beijing. Their itinerary includes
Bunratty Castle, Birr Castle Gardens, the
Book of Kells, the Guinness Storehouse and
Kildare Village.
David Boyce, Tourism Ireland’s Head of
Middle East, Asia and Emerging Markets,
said: “We were delighted to invite these
decision-makers from Ctrip to visit Ireland,
to see for themselves the many things to
see and do here that will appeal to their
clients. Fact-finding visits like this are
an important element of our overall
programme of activity with the travel
trade in China; our aim is to encourage
them to expand the content of the
Ireland programmes they offer.
“China is the largest outbound travel
market in the world and one that
Tourism Ireland is committed to
growing over the coming years. In
2018, we welcomed an estimated
100,000 Chinese visitors to the
island of Ireland. We are confident
that we are in a strong position to
grow this emerging travel market over
the coming years.”
Tourism Ireland is undertaking
a busy programme of publicity,
digital and social media activity
in China throughout 2019. The
organisation also works closely with
leading online travel agents and tour
operators like Ctrip.
Bunratty Castle
FOND
CHINA’S GATEWAY TO EUROPE
Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign
Affairs, Coveney (1st L, front), attends a
signing ceremony of a memorandum of
understanding (MOU) between Dublinbased
think tank AsiaMatters and the
Chinese People’s Association for Friendship
with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) in Cork on
May 24, 2019 last.
Minister for Agriculture Food & Marine,
Michael Creed
FAREWELL
Before departing on a trade mission
to China in May, Ireland’s Minister for
Agriculture Food & Marine, Michael
Creed paid tribute to outgoing Chinese
Ambassador to Ireland H.E. Yue
Xiaoyong, as he prepared to complete
his mission to Ireland.
“I took the opportunity to thank
Ambassador Yue for his hard work
and friendship during his tenure here
in Ireland,” Minister Creed said. “The
Ambassador’s assistance in building the
relationship between Ireland and China
has been vital, particularly from an Agri-
Food perspective. Ambassador Yue has
been a key support in Ireland achieving
beef access to China over the past year.”
Addressing attendees, Coveney said Ireland
is willing to help China reach out to the
European Union (EU) and said this MOU is
about deepening the relationship between
Ireland and China, which is already strong
and “getting stronger.”
Ireland is a gateway into the European Union
and a platform for global and international
trade. As China reaches out to the EU and the
rest of the world -- through the Belt and Road
Initiative in particular -- and becomes more
globalized, there are significant opportunities
for every side, Coveney said.
“If the relationships (between Ireland and
China) that are being forged today are
built on respect, I believe that Ireland can
play an important role in terms of being a
voice within the European Union to help
understand the new China,” he said.
Ireland is very successful in playing that
role and “that is certainly a role that we are
trying to play,” he said.
Minister Coveney also noted that both
Ireland and China should strengthen
exchanges and mutual understanding to
make sure the new relationship between
the two countries can work for both sides.
He also expressed satisfaction with the
trade relations between the two countries
and said the trade relationship between
Ireland and China in areas such as agrifood,
technology, software development and
pharmaceuticals, is now growing rapidly.
CPAFFC Vice President Song Jingwu and
AsiaMatters Executive Director Martin
Murray signed the MOU in the presence
of Coveney, Chinese Ambassador to
Ireland He Xiangdong, and Chairman of
AsiaMatters Alan Dukes.
21

Ireland-China Business Magazine
University College Cork
SMOOTH OPERATOR
Huawei has unveiled an alternative
operating system to Google’s Android.
Harmony OS was launched at a
developer’s conference in China in the
midst of an escalating trade war which has
erupted between the US and China that
has seen Huawei caught in the crossfire.
The new OS is part of Huawei’s efforts to
Bombardier Belfast
BOMBARDIER COURTS CHINA
A Chinese group which owns a large
manufacturing company in Ireland
has emerged as a possible buyer for
Bombardier Belfast.
The Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC)
which bought Thompson Aero Seating in
2016 and has a longstanding business
relationship with Bombardier is seen as
a potential bidder for Bombardier after
its Canadian parent company announced
its intention to sell its entire operation in
Northern Ireland.
Another state-owned Chinese company,
Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China is
also thought to be a potential buyer.
According to Stephen Kelly, chief executive
of industry group, Manufacturing NI,
develop its own technologies, from chips
to software in order to reduce its reliance
on US firms.
“Harmony OS is completely different from
Android and iOS,” said Richard Yu, head
of Huawei’s consumer business group.
“You can develop your apps once, then
flexibly deploy them across a range of
different devices.”
Bombardier’s Northern Ireland operations
could be “highly attractive to Chinese
companies.
“This is a world class profitable business
in Northern Ireland with a highly skilled
workforce. There is no way you can create
a highly skilled workforce of 3,500 people,
including exceptional engineers, overnight
who are capable of producing world class
products and that is a very attractive
proposition for any buyers.
“I believe Bombardier Belfast’s greatest
asset is its people – and that’s really
what’s going to attract buyers.
“But there is also a significant contracts
pipeline in Bombardier Belfast with the
work they do for both Bombardier and
Airbus.
SHANGHAI’S IRISH
STUDIES CENTRE
An Irish Studies Centre has been
established in China through an
agreement between University College
Cork (UCC) and Shanghai University
(SHU).
With over 40,000 students, Shanghai
University is one of China’s leading
universities and this joint agreement
will see a joint lecture programme
established to both further research
collaboration and to generate cultural
awareness and understandings between
Ireland and China.
This year is the 40th anniversary of
official diplomatic ties between Ireland
and China. “It is fitting that we establish
an Irish Studies Centre with Shanghai
University in this historic year. Both
our nations are separated by distance
but through such partnerships, we
can improve understandings of our
cultures and seek to address common
challenges, commented Professor
Patrick O’Shea, President, UCC.
Shanghai University President Jin
Donghan said, “this Irish Studies Centre
will become one of the most important
indicators of the depth of friendship
between our sister cities and our two
countries in a year, which marks a
milestone in a long friendship between
Ireland and China.”
UCC was part of an Irish delegation
led by the Minister for Education and
Skills Joe McHugh TD that met with
universities in Shanghai and Beijing, to
discuss bilateral education cooperation,
with a view to strengthening further the
links between Ireland and China.
UCC’s College of Arts, Celtic Studies
and Social Science (CACSSS) will be
the lead college working to develop
the Irish Studies Centre in Shanghai
University, in an initiative that was
supported by the Confucius Institute
and UCC’s China Working group.
22

Ireland-China Business Magazine
TAKING THE REINS
On Friday, May 3,
2019, Huang He,
Political Councillor of
the Chinese Embassy
and Marylee Wall,
Assistant Chief of
Protocol of Department
of Foreign Affairs and
Trade of Ireland, were
at Dublin International
Airport to welcome
He Xiangdong, new
Chinese Ambassador
to Ireland.
He Xiangdong, new
Ms. Wall extended a warm welcome to
Ambassador He on behalf of the Irish
Government.
Ambassador He said that he feels
privileged to serve as the new Chinese
Ambassador to Ireland in the year of 2019,
which marks the 40th anniversary of the
establishment of the diplomatic relations
between China and Ireland.
He added that he is looking forward
to working with all sides in Ireland to
further promote the China-Ireland
Strategic Partnership for Mutually
Beneficial Cooperation and strengthen the
friendship between two countries.
On 10 May 2019, Ambassador He
presented a copy of his Letter of Credence
to Feilim McLaughlin, Chief of Protocol of
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
of Ireland.
On 28 May 2019, Ambassador He visited
Phoenix Park where he presented his
Letter of Credence to President Michael
D. Higgins. Also present were Xia Lining,
Chinese Ambassador to Ireland
Ambassador He’s wife, Huang He, Political
Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission of
the Chinese Embassy, Mr. Simon Coveney,
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs
and Trade, Mr. Art O’Leary, Secretary
General to President and Mr. James
Kingston, Legal Advisor of Department of
Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Ambassador He conveyed greetings from
President Xi Jinping and thanked President
Higgins for the attention and support
which he has given to developing the
relationship between the two countries.
The Ambassador said that in the past
few years, the Strategic Partnership for
Mutually Beneficial Co-operation between
China and Ireland has enjoyed strong
momentum, with cooperation in various
fields and a deeper friendship emerging
between the two countries.
President Higgin recalled his meeting with
President Xi Jinping during his state visit
to China in 2014 and asked Ambassador
He to convey his sincere greetings to
President Xi Jinping.
CHINA MOVES UP THE
GLOBAL VC LADDER
Shen Nanpeng,
founding and
managing
partner of Sequoia
Capital China
Chinese investors scored their highest
ranking to date in the Forbes 2019 list
of the top global venture capitalists,
a listing which has traditionally been
dominated by Silicon Valley.
The latest annual Midas List of Forbes
Magazine sees 21 Chinese investors
ranked among the top 100 venture
capitalists globally – breaking the
previous record of 17 companies which
was set last year.
Four Chinese companies feature in the
top ten this year with Shen Nanpeng,
founding and managing partner of
Sequoia Capital China listed in pole
position for the second year running.
Shen was followed by Gan Jianping,
Managing Partner of Qiming Venture
Partners, Xu Xin, founding partner
of Capital Today and Tong Shihao,
managing partner of GGV Capital. They
ranked 5th, 6th and 7th respectively.
“A record number of international
investors, particularly from China,
and women investors are gradually
changing the image of the Silicon Valley
venture capitalist,” said Alex Konrad,
associate editor of Forbes.
TEAMING UP FOR STEM CELL
RESEARCH
Towards the end of last year, a number
of Irish higher education institutions
announced they had signed collaborative
deals with Chinese universities, leading to
new joint degrees and facility sharing.
Now, NUI Galway has announced the
establishment of a stem cell research
centre that will be shared between
itself and Hebei Medical University in
Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China. The
centre was initially launched back in 2017,
but only held its opening international
conference and scientific advisory board
meeting towards the end of 2018.
The centre is codirected
by Prof
Timothy O’Brien,
dean of NUI Galway’s
College of Medicine
and a Cúram
NUI Galway
investigator, and
Huixan Cui, president
of Hebei Medical University. Its goal is to
collaborate on and to develop translational
research programmes using stem cells to
treat serious conditions of unmet medical
need which require a global approach to
finding solutions.
“Hebei Province has a population of almost
80m people and many conditions which are
common in Ireland are also causing much
suffering to our population,” said Huixan.
“We are excited about this joint venture which
we believe will be mutually beneficial and
ultimately will serve the needs of patients.
We have just opened a new state-of-the-art
research facility which will be the home to
the joint stem cell research centre and we are
excited that we will be joined in this venture
by colleagues from NUI Galway.”
23

Ireland-China Business Association
2019 GLOBAL
CEO SURVEY
Despite rising
global trade
tensions, China
remains the
second most
attractive market
for growth
according to PwC’s
2019 Global CEO
survey: Just under
a quarter (24%) of
global CEOs said
that China was the
most important
territory for their
organisation’s
growth prospects
in the year ahead,
albeit it down from
33% in 2018.
This was one of
the key points
highlighted
at the PwC Ireland business luncheon
‘Celebrating the 40th anniversary of
bilateral relations between China and
Ireland’, also the Chinese New Year – The
year of the Pig!
Attendees at the event included the
Chinese Ambassador to Ireland, Ireland’s
Minister for Business, Enterprise &
Innovation, Department of Foreign Affairs
representatives, members of Association
of Chinese Enterprises in Ireland, Irish
corporates and SMEs.
The survey further revealed that over
a third (35%) of China CEOs are ‘very
confident’ about revenue growth for their
businesses in the year ahead. A new
strategic alliance or joint venture (60%) and
entering a new market (57%) will be key
drivers for growth in the year ahead.
Unsurprisingly, given trade tensions,
China’s CEOs’ reliance on the US for
growth has dropped to 17% from 59% in
2018. The survey highlights that China’s
CEOs are, consequently, diversifying
their markets for growth, adjusting their
growth strategy and investing in different
countries.
Addressing the event shortly before his
departure as Chinese Ambassador to
Ireland, Yue Xiaoyong focussed on Sino-
Irish Relations, the Belt and Road Initiative
and the first CIIE, emphasizing that China
will continue to carry out the Reform and
Opening-up, to support multilateralism and
to expand its imports.
Pictured at the PwC Ireland event ‘Celebrating the 40th anniversary of bilateral relations between China
and Ireland’ are (from left): H Dr. Yue Xiaoyong, Chinese Ambassador to Ireland; Heather Humphreys,
Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation and Feargal O’Rourke, Managing Partner, PwC.
The outgoing Ambassador encouraged both
Chinese and Irish businesses to join hands to
tap the tremendous potential in bilateral ties
with a view to enjoying stronger friendship
and greater prosperity.
“Year 2019 marks the 40th anniversary of
bilateral relations between China and Ireland.
As the second largest economy in the world
and 30% global growth contributor, China will
create more opportunities for Ireland and the
rest of the world in 2019. We will continue to
carry out reform, opening-up and supporting
multilateralism.”
Also addressing the event, Heather
Humphreys, TD, Minister for Business,
Enterprise and Innovation, said this is a
special time in Ireland-China relations.
“The Irish Government truly values
the connections that we and our Irish
companies, educational institutes, cultural
institutes and people have built with
China,” she said.
“Our economic ties have never been better.
I am delighted with the positive progress
that we have seen in the areas of trade and
investment and very happy to report that
Irish companies are successfully competing
in the Chinese market. I am confident
that the ties between Ireland and China
will become stronger as we continue our
engagements, dialogues and visits in both
directions.”
Minister Humphreys said Chinese
companies have place huge faith in Ireland
and continue to increase their investments
here. “For example, last year WuXi Biologics
announced that it would invest over
€325 million in a manufacturing facility
in Dundalk, the company’s first significant
investment outside of China. I was
delighted to join them at the event with the
Taoiseach,” she said.
“Not only has our trade and economic
relationship blossomed over the last 40
years, but our political relationship has
become stronger as we work together on a
wide range of opportunities.
“The benefits of these close ties cannot be
overstated.”
Joe Tynan, Tax Leader, PwC Ireland who
also addressed the event said we have
reached an interesting point in terms of trade
between both countries and should look to
creating continued synergy between our two
economies. “China CEOs are confident about
future growth and market diversification.
They want to access the EU market of 500
million people. Ireland offers a tried and
trusted entry point to the EU,” he said.
“Significantly, a number of key Chinese
companies in Technology, Life Sciences
and Financial Services have chosen
Ireland as their Launchpad. Equally, China
offers Irish companies great opportunities
for growth, particularly at this time as
companies look to diversify from the UK
market. The survey highlights China’s
CEOs’ appetite for a joint venture or
strategic alliance. Having a partner on the
ground in China is a very good way to build
relationships and start business with this
important growth market.”
24

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26

Ireland-China Business Association
Diplomacy in Action
On June 21st, the Chinese embassy hosted
a reception to mark the 40th anniversary of
China-Ireland diplomatic ties and welcome
Ambassador He Xiangdong to his new post
as Chinese Ambassador to Ireland.
Almost 400 people, including diplomats
from several foreign missions in Ireland
attended the event at Convention Center
Dublin, a landmark building in the Irish
capital.
Charles Flanagan, Irish minister for Justice
and Equality, attended the reception on
behalf of the Irish government.
Speaking at the reception, Chinese
Ambassador to Ireland He Xiangdong, who
assumed the office in May, said that great
achievements have been made in various
fields since the establishment of China-
Ireland diplomatic ties, particularly after the
establishment of the strategic partnership
for mutually beneficial cooperation
between the two sides in 2012.
On the political front, he said frequent
exchanges of visits have been seen
between the leaders of the two countries
which have played a guiding role for the
development of China-Ireland relations.
Last year trade between the two countries
increased to over €14.5bn and there
now over 400 Irish companies in China
and more than 20 Chinese companies in
Ireland.
“Bilateral economic and trade cooperation
as well as mutual investment has grown
with leaps and bounds,” Ambassador He
said. “In 1979, the trade volume between
China and Ireland was only $5.15 million.
As of 2018, it has exceeded $14.5 billion,
nearly 3,000 times more than that of
1979. China has become the second
largest export market for Irish dairy
products and pork, and third largest export
market for Irish food and drinks.
“A tremendous increase in mutual
investment has been achieved. Over 400
Irish companies have invested more than
$2 billion in China. Reciprocally, according
to the statistics of IDA Ireland, more than
20 Chinese enterprises have invested
nearly $2 billion in Ireland.
“Cooperation between China and Ireland
is booming in the fields of science and
technology, education, along with peopleto-people
and local exchanges. The
cooperation between the sovereign funds
of the two sides to co-fund science and
technology R&D has now started its second
Chinese Ambassador to Ireland, He Xiangdong
phase. The first Chinese Cultural Centre in
Ireland will soon be realized. James Joyce,
Samuel Beckett and Riverdance have many
fans there in China. We have jointly built
two cooperative educational institutions
and nearly 40 cooperative educational
projects.
Growth has been strong across numerous
fields including science and technology,
culture, education, people-to-people
exchanges and exchanges at local
government levels, the Ambassador noted.
Co-operation between the sovereign
funds of the two countries to co-fund R&D
projects has also entered a new phase and
the ambassador also pointed out that a
Chinese cultural center, the first of its kind
in Ireland, is currently under construction.
According to He, there are now over 5,000
Chinese students studying in Ireland and
the Chinese language will soon become
an alternative subject for college entrance
exams in the country. Meanwhile, seven
Chinese cities and provinces have twined
with their Irish counterparts, and that more
local governments from both sides have
expressed a desire for more cooperation
and exchange.
Over 120,000 trips have been made
between the two countries since the launch
of three direct flights between China and
Ireland over the past year, said He, adding
that an estimated 50,000 members of the
Chinese community in Ireland have made
significant contributions to the social and
economic development of the country as
well as to the development of China-Ireland
relations.
China and Ireland cooperate well on
international and regional issues, the
ambassador said, adding that both sides
support each other in playing a bigger role
in international affairs.
Despite huge differences between the
two countries in terms of social systems,
development levels, historical and cultural
backgrounds, and territory and population
sizes, China and Ireland have set a model
for building a win-win relationship of
mutual trust and mutual benefits among
different countries, he said.
The ambassador called on both sides to
grasp the opportunities presented by the
strong growth of the bilateral relationship
and team up in dealing with the common
challenges, particularly those posed by
unilateralism and trade protectionism
so that they can bring the China-Ireland
strategic partnership for mutual beneficial
cooperation to new heights.
Ireland’s Minster for Foreign Affairs, Charlie
Flanagan said that Ireland-China relations “are
growing stronger with each passing year.”
Minister Flanagan also announced the
introduction of a five-year multi-entry visa
option for Chinese visitors, starting from
July 1, 2019 which he said is a “testament
to our commitment to strengthening
the people-to-people links between our
two countries and in recognition of the
improved connectivity between us.”
At the reception, Flanagan and the Chinese
ambassador jointly unveiled a set of Irish
and Chinese stamps to mark the 40th
anniversary of the diplomatic ties between
the two countries.
27

Ireland-China Business Magazine
Ireland
University
of Limerick
Dublin
Shannon
airport
28
GOOD
UNIVERSITY
GUIDE
2019
IRISH
UNIVERSITY
OF THE YEAR

Ireland-China Business Magazine
News
John Halligan , Ireland’s Minister
for Training, Skills, Innovation
THE WORLD MOVES EAST
The growth of the middle class throughout
Asia Pacific presents ambitious Irish
companies with unprecedented
opportunities, delegates at the recent
Ambition Asia Pacific conference in Dublin
heard.
Some 23 million new ASEAN households
are on track to earn more than US
$35,000 a year by 2030 in what is “the
fastest-growing, most dynamic region in
the world, according to John Ferguson,
Director of Country Analysis at the
Economist Intelligence Unit, who provided
an overview of growth trends and
opportunities in the region.
In China, major strategic programmes
such as Made in China 2025 and the long
term Belt and Road construction initiative
“are not going away” and “Chinese growth
is still just very modestly slowing down
to around 6%,” he said. The Chinese
government is also using monetary goals
and fiscal policy to maintain that growth.
Even allowing for the challenges facing
China, “it’s still going to grow pretty
reasonably well over the next couple of
years,” he said.
Despite lower growth prospects of a modest
1% in Japan, Ferguson said that as a huge,
developed and rich economy, it still offers
“a lot of opportunities” for Irish companies.
Much of that opportunity relates to
Japan’s Society 5.0 initiative, the Japanese
government’s focus on artificial intelligence,
sensor technology and automation.
Meanwhile India represents a particularly
“bright spot” in the global economy with
average growth of around 7% predicted
over the next five years. This compares
with global growth of around 2% and
Asian growth of between 4% and 5%.
With predicted growth levels of 5% and a
large population, Indonesia is another really
strong performer, again driven by the fast
growth of its middle class. Indonesia’s fiveyear
growth rate forecast is almost double
that of Singapore’s, at 2.9%.
South Korea is another mature market but
still likely to show average growth of 2.7%
over the next five years.
Kevin Sherry, executive director Global
Business Development at Enterprise Ireland
told the conference that the agency is
working with more than 600 companies
that are doing business in the Asia Pacific
region. “Irish companies are used to winning
in the Asia Pacific markets,” said “The rising
middle class in the Asia Pacific region is
phenomenal. The world is moving east.”
Depending on what happens in October in
relation to Brexit, Ireland may be the only
English speaking country in the EU, a fact
that presents challenges but opportunities
too, he noted.
Enterprise Ireland is expanding its
footprint in the Asia Pacific region to
help support Irish companies looking
to capitalise on the growing level of
opportunities there, opening new offices
in Auckland, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam,
in Melbourne, Australia and in Shenzhen.
PROMOTING SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY TIES
John Halligan, Ireland’s Minister for
Training, Skills, Innovation and Chinese
Minister for Science and Technology
has signed a revised Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) to promote
science, technology and innovation
cooperation between Ireland and China.
Speaking at the signing of the MOU,
Minister Halligan he looked forward
to working with Minister Wang and
his Ministry to build on the existing
collaborative links between the two
countries. “We know that research and
innovation can play a significant role in
addressing the many global challenges
we face – from tackling climate change
and protecting the environment to
responding to the challenges of an
ageing society,” he said.
Today, there are over 200 active
collaborations between researchers and
enterprise in Ireland and China. One
of the key recent developments is the
Science Foundation Ireland - National
Natural Science Foundation of China
Partnership Programme, which was
launched in 2017. It involves joint
funding of over €12 million for eight
new research projects over four years.
The Department of Business, Enterprise
and Innovation recently announced
the establishment of a number of new
positions at embassies abroad including
one at First Secretary level at the Embassy
of Ireland in Beijing, China. The position
will be filled in September 2019 and the
representative will work with Enterprise
Ireland and IDA Ireland as part of Team
Ireland in China. This appointment
in Beijing is part of the continued
implementation of the Government’s
Global Ireland 2025 strategy.
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Ireland-China Business Association
MARKING A SUCCESSFUL DECADE
Last year LMC Energy Solutions, trading
as LMC Group, celebrated its tenth
anniversary. Established in 2008 by
Martin Lydon and Stephen McConnell, the
firm has grown from modest beginings to
become one of the leading manufacturing,
engineering and facilities management
companies in the country.
LMC Group traditionally focused on providing
building services contracting nationwide
but over the years has developed into a
leading hard services facilities management
company. The services provided range
from design development, building services
engineering, BIM, procurement, project
management, project execution and
commissioning to asset register compilation
and complete life cycle care.
As an ISO 45001:2018 (Safety), ISO
9001:2015 (Quality) and ISO 14001:2015
(Environmental) accredited group of This company was established to produce well advanced to expand the range to
companies, LMC Group is committed to modular solutions which are currently in full appartments | Modular and houses from its
ensuring that all tasks are executed in
a safe manner that ensures compliance
high demand on construction sites across
Ireland, the UK and beyond.
dedicated factory in County Tipperary.
With business booming LMC is making
to both the regulatory standards and
plans for further expansion
The company is primarily manufacturing
industry best practice. Responding to
market needs, LMC expanded into offsite Complete Lifecycle modular bathrooms and kitchens for
For further information Care
log onto
the residential, hospitality and student
| Engineering
construction in 2017 as LMC Modular Ltd.
www.lmcgroup.ie
accommodation sector, but plans are
Plan | Develop | Deliver | Operate | | Maintain
Complete | Engineering Lifecycle Care
Plan | Develop | Deliver | Operate | Maintain
Complete Lifecycle Care
Plan | Develop | Deliver | Operate | Maintain
|
| Modular
| Engineering
|
| Modular
| Engineering
|
| Modular
Complete
www.lmcgroup.ie
Lifecycle Care
45
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LMC Group 1/2.indd 1 12/08/2019 11:59
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Ireland-China Business Association
Enter
the Dragon
Foreign direct investment (FDI) by Chinese companies in Ireland has soared by over 200p%
over the past year despite growing trade tensions and a significant decline in Chinese
investment into Europe and the US, where it has reached a six –year low.
Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI)
in Ireland grew by a massive 218% to
$100m (€87.2m) last year, according to
a study by international law firm Baker
McKenzie.
The increase in FDI from just €30
million in 2017 was largely as a result
of the 325m investment by Chinese
biopharma company WuXi Biologics in
a manufacturing facility in Dundalk, Co
Louth, which will lead to the creation of
400 jobs over the next few years.
Another significant investments was the
acquisition of Goodbody Stockbrokers by
Zhongze in July2018.
In addition, Bank of China, one of the
top four banking groups in China and
the third-largest of its kind in the world,
opened a branch in Dublin last year, the
first Chinese bank to set up a branch in
the country.
Chinese FDI into the State experienced
a record year in 2016, with investment
totalling almost $3bn, although this
was largely a result of the HNA’s Group
acquisition of aircraft leasing company
Avolon for $2.5bn.
There are now more than 20 companies
from China operating in Ireland and,
employing a total of around 2,000
people, according to figures from the
Chinese embassy.
Earlier this year, China-based WuXi
Biologics announced an investment
plan of €325 million ($374m) to build a
manufacturing facility in Dundalk, Co
Louth, opening up the prospects of 400
new jobs in five years.
The Chinese companies here are
mainly engaged in aircraft leasing,
financial services, information and
communications technology (ICT), agrifood
and high-quality manufacturing
which Ireland has an obvious advantage
over others.
Nearly a dozen of the Chinese companies
are involved in aircraft leasing owing
to Ireland’s leading position as a global
aircraft leasing hub and its businessfriendly
environment.
Figures from Industrial Development
Authority of Ireland show that 63 per
cent of all the commercially leased
aircraft in the world are now under
the management of leasing companies
registered in Ireland.
Meanwhile figures show that Chinese
FDI into Europe and North America fell
dramatically last year, dropping from
$111bn in 2017 to just $30 billion in 2018.
Chinese investment into Europe also
declined sharply last year, falling by
70% to $22.5bn, down from $80bn the
previous year.
Again, a sizeable portion of Chinese
FDI was due to the $4bn acquisition of
Syngenta by ChemChina. In the absence
of this acquisition, Chinese investment in
Europe would have declined by 40%.
A number of European countries enjoyed
a strong increase in FDI from China
including France, Germany, Spain and
Sweden
The UK was the recipient of more Chinese
investment that any other country last
year at $4.94bn, which was nonetheless
down by 76% on 2017.
The top sectors for investment were
automotive, financial services and IT.
31

Ireland-China Business Association
T: +353 18239777 | E: Ireland.sales@kuehne-nagel.com | W: www.kuehne-nagel.ie
32

Ireland-China Business Association
Investment in the US fell 83% to just
$5bn in 2018, due largely to the everworsening
trade dispute.
Overall, completed Chinese investment
into Europe and North America fell to
just $30bn last year, down from $111bn
in 2017.
There is little doubt that the Chinese
economic growth is slowing and official
figures placed real GDP growth at 6.6%
in 2018, the lowest rate since 1990.
The McKinsey Global Institute’s
Economic Activity Index, which
tracks the performance of the Chinese
economy by looking at a basket of
57 different indicators ranging from
retail and property sales to electricity
consumption, confirms the slowdown.
The economy is expected to continue to
soften in 2019, with consensus forecasts
expecting GDP growth to land somewhere
between 6.0 and 6.2% this year.
Nonetheless China continues to rack
up one of the fastest rates of economic
growth in the world. Given its enormous
scale, this translates into substantial
additions in absolute terms: This year,
China will add the equivalent of the
entire Australian economy to its GDP.
According to Baker McKenzie, the
forecast is for Chinese investment to be
stronger in Europe this year, with more
than $20bn of pending transactions at the
beginning of 2019. The pipeline in North
America remains weak, however, with
less than $5bn of pending deals.
“In terms of the outlook there is still a
healthy pipeline of M&As [mergers and
acquisitions] in Europe, particularly in
the mid-market space and a possible
upside in North America if talks can move
towards resolving trade conflict as well
as concerns of the committee on foreign
investment in the United States process
ease,” said Bee Chun Boo, M&A partner
in Baker McKenzie’s Beijing office.
The UK was the
recipient of more
Chinese investment
that any other
country last year at
$4.94bn, which was
nonetheless down by
76% on 2017.
33

Ireland-China Business Association
“Wherever you go, go with all your heart”
Confucius
34

Ireland-China Business Association
Building on the Past
Ireland & China – ‘Building an exciting future based on a strong past’:
Marie O’Brien, Partner and Head of China Programme examines
some of the key developments between Ireland and China since
diplomatic relations were established forty years ago.
In 1979, Ireland went to China and went
with all our hearts, and we welcomed
China to Ireland with all our hearts. The
last 40 years has seen Ireland find a new
level of recognition in, and partnership
with, China. From a Chinese perspective,
Ireland has gone from a little-known small
country in Europe to being home for some
of the largest and most successful Chinese
businesses.
Last year was an incredible year in terms
of the confidence and trust placed in
Ireland by Chinese business. Now we can
boast great success across a number of
industries from aircraft leasing to biologics,
from renewable energy to agrifood and
from tourism to fintech. The special bond
between the two countries will grow ever
stronger.
In some ways, because the growth in
recent years in bilateral trade between
Ireland and China has increased so much, it
feels like an overnight success. It certainly
has not been an overnight story and
instead is a story of many years of building
trust and relationships. Ireland never
felt entitled to this success but instead
worked hard from all angles to grow the
relationship and earn the respect and
faith of China. Groundwork to today’s big
headlines was laid from at least as far back
as 1979. These strong foundations will pave
the way for an enduring connection in
economic, social and political terms.
Some of the key developments in the
Ireland and China story over the past 40
years include:
• Increased recognition of Ireland:
Without a doubt, Ireland’s offering
as a great place to do business has
become more recognised in China. The
key ingredients, that most agree are
essential for success, are the available
talent pool, experienced advisors and
an excellent legal and tax regime.
My experience in travelling to China
regularly over the past ten years has
been one of seeing great evolution
and development in China’s ambition
for ‘going global’. The appetite and
enthusiasm to learn about Ireland and
the universal positive feedback from
anyone who has visited Ireland is
wonderful.
• Move to Real Substance: As Chinese
companies have grown in Ireland
their legal needs have expanded.
A&L Goodbody has been very proud
to have been there to guide Chinese
companies from their initial set up in
Ireland and the regulatory and other
questions that go with that decision to
helping them successfully execute their
business plan. The Chinese companies
in Ireland have moved from small
SPV establishments to serious Irish
corporates with senior employees and
ambitious business plans. With that
growth comes more complex legal
needs from an Irish law perspective.
This includes advice around
employment, property, regulatory,
corporate governance, M&A, finance,
tax and data protection matters. A&L
Goodbody is able to offer top tier advice
across all these areas allowing us to
support our Chinese clients through all
aspects of their life cycle.
• Expansion of industry types: Ireland’s
strengths in terms of fostering inward
investment are very aligned to China’s
foreign investment strategy. China’s
ambition and Ireland’s expertise
in areas such as medtech, pharma,
fintech, aircraft leasing, financial
services, agrifood, and biologics fit
like hand in glove. This has driven
excellent diversification in terms of the
industries for investment by China in
Ireland.
• Access to Europe: Brexit has meant
that many Chinese companies now
see Ireland as their gateway to Europe.
Although the UK and China will
always have a very strong business
connection, Brexit has opened the door
for Ireland in areas where access to
European markets is key.
35

Ireland-China Business Association
Marie O’Brien, Partner and Head of China Programme
Chinese companies in Ireland now
operate in the same sophisticated way
as other key international players
and therefore face the same business
challenges. Their boardrooms all discuss
talent recruitment and retention,
increased regulation, market share, data
protection and global expansion as key
priorities. While the challenges may be
similar across the board, the approach
and solutions do need to be tailored to
take account of the background, culture
and policies of the particular client.
Understanding these differences will be
crucial to success.
A&L Goodbody understands that time and
effort is needed to gain real understanding
as to how best to serve Chinese
companies. We have invested over the last
ten years in building our knowledge. We
are the first and only Irish law firm with
a Chinese Lawyer Placement Programme
which involves senior Chinese lawyers
from leading Chinese firms completing
a four month placement with ALG, and
ALG lawyers spending time in China.
There is no substitute for on-the-ground
experience in understanding the drivers
for business. This Programme has been
instrumental in ensuring that ALG holds a
large market share of Chinese companies
doing business in Ireland across a variety
of sectors.
The Programme has gone from strength
to strength and now boasts alumni of over
75 Chinese lawyers who have worked with
us, providing us with valuable insight
into what Chinese companies need when
they wish to invest internationally. In
turn these lawyers see first-hand Ireland’s
investment environment and can bring
this knowledge back to their business in
China.
This Year of the Pig 2019 is an opportunity
to reflect and celebrate all that we have
learnt, achieved and understood in 40
years of the close relationship between
Ireland and China. It is important to
mark it and important to celebrate this
significant milestone. It is most important
however that we build on it and ensure
the next 40 years leaves us with a treasure
trove of good memories and stories of
shared success, friendship and trade.
For further information contact Marie O’Brien,
Partner and Head of China Programme.
Tel: +353 1 649 2705
Email: mobrien@algoodbody.com
“Ireland’s strengths
in terms of fostering
inward investment are
very aligned to China’s
foreign investment
strategy. China’s
ambition and Ireland’s
expertise in areas such
as medtech, pharma,
fintech, aircraft
leasing, financial
services, agrifood and
biologics fit like hand
in glove.”
36

Ireland-China Business Association
Airports
Reduced Development Levies
Louth County Council, Dundalk, Co. Louth, Ireland
Tel +353 42 9335457 Web www.louthcoco .ie
@louthcoco
37

Ireland-China Business Association
IIP
Game changer
Calls to reduce the cost of the Immigrant Investor Programme(IIP)
for projects with a clearly defined social benefit
Introduced in 2012 as the government
urgently sought inward investment in the
midst of the global financial crisis, the IIP
is a residence by investment programme
which enables foreigners from outside
the Eurozone to secure residency in
Ireland for an initial period of two years.
Residency status is also granted to the
investors immediate family and can be
extended up to 10 years if certain criteria
are met. Applicants must be high net
worth individuals with personal wealth
of a minimum lf €2m and an unblemished
personal and professional record.
Initially, the price point for participation in
the programme was set at €500k but in 2017
the price was increased to €1m. Applicants
must apply to invest via the programme in
one of four different categories.
By the end of 2018, the IIP had raised
at least €500 million for the economy.
Charities and other non-profit
organisations have received around €30m
which has enabled the delivery of vital
social and community projects while over
50% of investments made under the IIP
last year is being used to deliver urgently
needed social housing and fund more
primary care centres and nursing homes.
Initially, uptake of the IIP was modest
and just under a hundred applications
were submitted in 2014 and 2015. As
the economy emerged from recession,
interest in the programme accelerated
and in 2016 the number of applications
increased fivefold. This prompted the
decision by the Department of Justice to
increase the investment threshold from
its initial charge of €500k up to €1m.
Last year, there were 320 applications to the
scheme, over 90% of which were Chinese.
Many companies promoting the IIP
to international investors believe
the potential of the scheme was
compromised when the investment
threshold was effectively doubled. In
particular, submissions to a series of
reviews of the programme argue that
it is failing to take full advantage of a
clear opportunity to target areas of vital
national importance.
Richard Barrett, founder of Bartra
Capital, which has an extensive footprint
in Asia and promotes the IIP across its
four branches in China believes the
price hike blunted the programme’s
competitive edge and ceded the initiative
to ‘competing’ schemes available
in EU member-states such as Spain
and Portugal, where the investment
threshold is substantially lower.
“This business is essentially competitive
and the majority of European countries,
including the UK, France, Belgium,
Netherlands, Cyprus, Greece and Spain,
operate these programme,” he says. “In the
main, there are two factors which influence
the extent of uptake. One is the processing
time insofar as it affects very busy business
people and in this regard there are countries
which are faster than Ireland.
“The second thing issue is price and the
cost of the programme in Greece is four
times less at €250k while in Cyprus it is
€300k and in Spain and Portugal, it is
€500,000. So in Ireland, we are well out
of synch with competing programmes.
“Our view is that the price point should
be reduced back to its original cost solely
for certain categories of projects where
a particular need and deficit has been
identified by Government. We have
numerous reports which have tabulated
future demand and supply trends in
relation to vital infrastructure and
which have identified substantial gaps
in relation to nursing homes and social
housing provision. We don’t need to tell
anyone about the extent of the social
housing crisis in this country.
38

Ireland-China Business Association
“Demographically, Ireland is also starting
to experience a rapidly increasing
cohort of older people and we don’t have
anywhere near enough nursing homes to
cater to predicted demand.
“What we would say is that qualifying
projects should remain at €1m on the
basis that when England exits the EU,
Ireland will be the only English speaking
EU member state. So, the general cost
should be unchanged, but for social
housing projects and nursing homes
approved by the Irish Naturalisation
and Immigration Service (INIS), it should
be reduced to €500k.
“The basic law of economics applies. If
you reduce the price, demand goes up
and the total revenue created is much
higher. Basically, we are talking about
adopting the same approach we used
when lowering corporation tax in order
to attract more industry to the country.
It would undoubtedly generate far
greater funds to the programme.”
The performance of similar schemes
operating in other EU member states
appears to bear out Barrett’s analysis.
Introduced in 2013, the Spanish Golden
Visa programme experienced its most
successful year on record in 2018. Since
its inception, the programme has raised
almost €3bn and shown and enjoyed
approximate annual growth of 45%.
The initial uptake was lacklustre and in
2015 the Spanish government responded
by easing restrictions and allowing
spouses, children and elderly relatives
to be included on visas, while extending
the period of residency from two to
five years. The intervention resulted
in a fourfold increase in the number of
applications the following year as well
as a threefold increase in the amount of
money being invested.
In 2012, Portugal introduced a visa
program in order to attract foreign
investors and replenish its rapidly
depleting coffers. The Portuguese
programme has since attracted over
7,500 investors and contributed
approximately €4.35bn to the economy.
In January of this year alone, the
programme collected over €85 million.
Until recent years one of the most
popular investment programs was
operated in Latvia where almost 6,000
applications were submitted in 2014. That
same year, the Latvian parliament voted
to increase the investment threshold
causing the number of applications to
plummet to just over 1,000 the following
year. Interest in the programme has now
virtually ground to a standstill.
Despite Ireland’s fundamental
attractiveness to foreign investors, the
programmes which exist in both Portugal
and Spain attract significantly higher
levels of investment. Barrett is confident
that reverting to the original €500k
threshold for approved projects will
result in a dramatic uptake in the IIP.
“They raised the entry cost for all
projects and did not differentiate
although there is no good reason to insist
that a universal price is applied across
the board. If we got more funds to build
social housing, we could outbid a normal
property developer and build more social
houses because these funds are made
available very cheaply.
“By applying this cost reduction we
would increase the absolute amount of
funds we generate by a factor of three.
Programmes in countries such as Spain
and Portugal are getting six or seven
times the funding Ireland receives and
this is without question related to price.”
“The notion that investors would
prefer to spend €500k to go to Spain or
Portugal, if they could go to Ireland for a
similar cost doesn’t stack up. In my view
Ireland would wipe the floor with them.
We have a number of inherent advantages
when it comes to attracting overseas
investors, particularly the fact that we
are the only English-speaking member
of the EU, our economy and education
system is strong and we have a respected
pro-business environment and a friendly
and welcoming reputation.
“Last year we ran 181 investor seminars
from our four offices in China, each of
which attracted between 100 and 150
people. We have a good estimate as to the
degree of interest in the programme from
the rate of positive interactions and that
is at the prevailing rate of €1m.
“By reducing the rate to €500k we could
convert a far higher number and capture
at least half of the investors which are
opting for similar schemes in Portugal
and Spain. That is an extra €2.5bn to
€3bn in cash. If you add bank finance on
top of that, we are talking from €7.5bn
to €9bn of additional spending on social
housing, nursing homes and care centres.
That is transformative, particularly in
the context of a hard Brexit and the
economic devastation that could wreak
on the Irish economy.
“We have seen the Government maintain
its capital programme in the light of
substantial increases over budgeted
expenditure for the National Children’s
Hospital and the National Mental Hospital,
etc. The extra funds so diverted have to
come from reduced expenditures on other
programmes. The IIP could helpfully fill the
39

Ireland-China Business Association
funding gap and not just keep the projected
number of social houses and nursing
homes on track, but exceed projections.
There is substantial construction
employment in the construction of these
facilities as well as substantial economic
multiplier and Vat revenues. “
“Our nursing homes have 1 to 1 ratio of
staff per patient, so there would also be
substantial additional jobs created in
this area.”
Over 90% of applicants to the IIP are
from China which also accounts for 80%
of applications to other investment for
residence schemes across Europe. The
principal reason, according to Barrett,
is that China does not recognise dual
citizenship and any Chinese national
acquiring a passport from another
jurisdiction is required to forego their
Chinese passport.
“If you lose your Chinese passport, all
sorts of issues arise. You are not entitled
to go to Chinese school and you lose all
your social security benefits. Nearly all
Chinese people wish to remain Chinese,
so they prefer the system of the visas to
avoid all these problems,” he says.
Ireland is also a preferential destination
for Chinese investors due to the fact that
English is a standard mandatory language
and the most common language spoken
in China, aside from mandarin. This can
present problems in non-English speaking
jurisdictions, particularly in relation to
education which is a particularly high
priority for Chinese investors. In Spain,
for instance, MBA’s are available through
English but undergraduate programmes
are conducted in Spanish and it can be
especially difficult to find appropriate
schools for non-Spanish speaking children.
In Ireland, the lower costs which apply
to residents for 3rd level education is
also an attractive feature for potential
IIP applicants. In most instances,
applications involve a family with a single
child, and a foreign education remains
highly prized. “The parents want their
child to attend a foreign university and
if they have a permanent residency card,
they stand a much higher chance of
being accepted than if they are a foreign
student,” says Barrett.
Richard Barrett, founder of Bartra Capital
In addition, there is a huge difference in the
fees which apply to foreign students and
residents. The Royal College of Surgeons
charges around €60k per year for a foreign
student while a resident is charged a far
lesser fee of €25k. That equate to almost
€200,000 over a six-year period.
Barrett also points out that because the
overwhelming number of applicants
come from China where very strict
capital controls are in place, it can be
difficult for some interested investors
to transfer a million euros out of China
whereas the lesser amount of €500k is
significantly more feasible.
The IIP scheme is subject to regular and
detailed scrutiny to ensure high standards
are maintained. Earlier this year the
Department of Justice carried out an
internal review of the IIP and a rigorous
external review is currently underway.
The current scheme is much better
designed than previous incarnations of
the programme which existed in the 1980s
and strict criteria are now strenuously
applied, according to Barrett.
“We are obliged by anti-money
laundering legislation to run detailed
and far-reaching checks on applicants.
I happen to own a large digital software
company that specialises in this area and
carries out checks for central banks, retail
banks and other financial institutions.
There are now very strong defences in
place and before investors are approved
they have to demonstrate the source of
the funds being used and prove that it
comes from legitimate sources means.
“INIS now have the facilities to properly
scrutinise financial records, bank
statements and other documentation and
can effectively determine their legitimacy
or otherwise.”
In addition, applicants are not permitted
to avail of borrowed funds and they must
be free from any criminal convictions
while health insurance is also mandatory.
Barrett is dismissive of critics who contend
that the scheme is simply replacing existing
investment. “The fact is that we are talking
about government policy and there is
universal acceptance among all strands of
society that we need more social housing
and nursing homes,” he says.
“I did not decide that there was a huge
deficit in this area and if the government
wants to build all the nursing homes and
social housing required, that is fine.
“But the government says it is not able
to meet demand and It needs private
investment. This is private investment
coming from outside the country. It is not
displacing existing activities or disrupting
ventures which are likely to get underway.
It is foreign money coming in that would
not otherwise be available. The Government
have set out how many privately produced
social housing units and nursing homes
are required, how many they will be in a
position to build and how many privately
produced ones will be needed.
“Even in its present form, the IIP
scheme produces more investment at
less cost than either of the other two
main state agencies. What it could do if
they amended the price rule for strongly
deserving Government policy areas
would be very significant. With the exit
of the UK, China needs a new best friend
in Europe and we are ideally positioned
to fulfil that role.
“So, the key question is how do we
generate the greatest amount from the
scheme currently in place?”
Food for thought for the Department
of Justice and INIS…. And perhaps an
opportunity to generate the kind of funds
that would have a dramatic impact on the
supply of urgent social infrastructure at a
time when economic alarm bell warnings
are beginning to sound ever louder.
40

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Ireland-China Business Association
Reasons to be
Proud in Louth
Located on Ireland’s east coast and ideally positioned between Dublin and Belfast,
the two largest cities on the island of Ireland, County Louth
offers unrivalled access to talent and infrastructure.
Over 2.25 million people, representing
more than one third of the population
of the island of Ireland, live within a 60
minute drive of Dundalk and Drogheda,
the principal urban centres in the county.
The Government’s plan for Ireland over
the next 20 years, set out in Project
Ireland 2040, has identified Dundalk
and Drogheda in Co Louth as key growth
centres of national significance, alongside
the four cities of Ireland outside Dublin.
Following the Local Government Reform
Act 2014 which provided a stronger role
for local government in economic and
community development, Louth County
Council has been assiduous in its efforts
to promote Louth as an ideal location
for inward investment, both foreign and
domestic. The authority has focussed on
cultivating a strong pro-business culture
and providing a supportive environment
for both new and established businesses.
In the main, the strategy has been about
identifying the critical assets of the
region, setting out policies to optimise
the key sectors underpinning the local
economy and ramping up engagement
with industry in the region. These
initiatives have coincided with an
intensive marketing and networking
campaign to promote the region both at
home and abroad.
According to Joan Martin, Chief
Executive, Louth County Council, the
counties strategic location mid-way on
the busiest economic corridor in Ireland
is a core advantage and one which few
competing locations can match. Citing
the myriad of benefits available to
businesses in Louth she references ease
of access to key markets, a critical mass
of talent and exceptional infrastructure
designed to support enterprise.
“Businesses also benefit from an
enterprise-friendly environment where
the local authority actively works with
entrepreneurs and business managers
to help them succeed. Businesses in the
county can also take advantage of more
affordable property solutions and a more
cost competitive operating base,” she adds.
The development of the region’s
economic potential is a core priority for
Louth County Council which offers a
diverse range of business incentives and
support to encourage entrepreneurs with
business ideas to locate in the county.
A dedicated economic development team
partners with businesses to remove any
obstacles that might slow down their
journey to business success and Louth
County Council effectively operates as a ‘one
stop shop’ for investors – whether they are a
domestic start-up or large multinational.
The region’s growing profile and
significant recent wins such as the
decision by WuXi Biologics to locate its
first facility outside China in Dundalk
has given rise to a renewed sense of
confidence and optimism in the region.
The county’s ‘can do’ attitude is firmly
mirrored by the Council.
This is amply demonstrated by the area’s
increasingly formidable track record in
attracting inward investment and the
growing number of leading national
and multinational businesses which are
operating successfully from the county.
A cluster of thriving indigenous
businesses have taken root in county
Louth and include Glen Dimplex, Irish
Life, Digiweb, Boyle Sports, Kerry Group,
Horseware, MultiHog, Nature’s Best,
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Ireland-China Business Association
Boyne Valley Foods, Irish Cement, Intact
Software and Ovelle.
Foreign-owned multinational companies
are also locating in County Louth in
increasing numbers and operate across
a wide range of sectors, including
lifescience, international and financial
services, engineering and technology based
businesses. Leading global companies such
as Satir, SuMi Trust (part of Sumitomo
Mitsui Group), PayPal, CocaCola, Xerox,
State Street, BD, IT Governance, Prometric,
and CargoTec have all established
successful operations in the region.
Recent Developments
In recent times leading international
companies have announced over 2,000
additional jobs in new investments in
the county, including WuXi Biologics,
PCI Pharma, Almac Pharma, Graebel
Inc., Mobile Technologies Inc., Yapstone,
Wasdell Group and National Pen.
A number of substantial housing and
commercial property developments are
also underway in Louth which is adding to
the county’s capacity to grow business.
Construction is now well underway
at the new 45,000m2 WuXi Biologics
facility which is located on a 23-hectare
campus at IDA Ireland’s Science and
Technology Park in Dundalk, Co Louth.
In addition, Irish Life and IDA Ireland
are both completing construction of
new advance office buildings, which
will provide an additional 7,000m2 of
advance office space. And both Wasdell
Group and Almac Pharma are completing
12,500m2 of manufacturing facilities
at IDA’s campus in Dundalk. With the
on-going development of a number
of substantial housing developments
and the impressive campus at Dundalk
Institute of Technology many companies
are choosing to invest in the area.
WuXi Biologics choose Louth
The €325 million investment in a
new biopharmaceuticals contract
manufacturing facility in Dundalk,
by WuXi Biologics, China’s leading
biologics medicine manufacturer marks
a significant vote of confidence in the
region and will provide a valuable
employment boost, resulting in the
creation of 400 jobs when in full
For new property
developments, a
revised Development
Contribution Scheme
provides reduced
commercial levies
and qualifying
investments by
IDA, Enterprise
Ireland and Local
Enterprise Office
clients can avail of
a 50% discount for
property development
contributions making
Louth one of the most
attractive locations
in Ireland for
development.
43

Ireland-China Business Association
production. The jobs at the facility will
range from manufacturing to technical
and quality assurance roles as well as
associated administration positions.
This represents WuXi Biologics’ first ever
manufacturing investment in Europe and
the company’s first investment of this
scale anywhere outside of China. When
complete, WuXi Biologics Ireland will be
the world’s largest facility using singleuse
bioreactor technology.
Commenting on its Dundalk investment,
the company’s CEO, Dr. Chris Chen
said: ‘I’m looking forward to growing
our future together; 400 exciting jobs
is just the start. Our goal is to make
this facility one of our biggest biologics
manufacturing sites globally. We are very
committed to Ireland and we will make
this facility a showcase for the global
technology community.”
Supporting Enterprise
Louth County Council has also
introduced a range of new business
supports and has pursued a collaborative
approach in order to help deliver
economic growth and job creation.
For new property developments, a
revised Development Contribution
Scheme provides reduced commercial
levies. Qualifying investments by IDA,
Enterprise Ireland and Local Enterprise
Office clients can avail of a 50% discount
for property development contributions
making Louth one of the most attractive
locations in Ireland for development.
According to Joan Martin, the adoption
of a partnership approach has been key
to the development of the region and in
2009, the Louth Economic Forum was
created to bring together the business
community and relevant state agencies
and assist in the development of a broad
economic strategy for the region. “We
firmly believed that collaboration across
sectors was needed to drive economic
growth and job creation. Louth County
Council chose to take the lead in this
project and we invited IDA Ireland,
Enterprise Ireland, SEAI, the education
sector, Teagasc, Fáilte Ireland, the
Department of Employment Affairs and
the business community to become part
of the process,” she says.
Chaired independently by Martin Cronin,
the former CEO of Forfas, the Government’s
Business Advisory Agency, the forum
comprises the business sector in county
Louth, the local authority management
and all of the State agencies that interact
with those generating economic activity
in the county. It has devised an overall
10-point plan identifying specific areas to
be addressed within its work programme.
A task group has been formed for each of
the areas, including developing Indigenous
Business and attracting Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI).
“The FDI Strategy has set a target to
create 3,000 new jobs in Louth over a 10-
year period and now a little over halfway
through that period over 2,100 jobs have
been created. The purpose of the Forum
is to ensure that the right conditions
prevail to attract FDI into Louth. We
work collectively to overcome any
barriers and to promote the attributes
of this wonderful county to potential
investors and influencers,” says Martin.
Investment in Louth
The key requirements of today’s
international investors include the
availability of a highly skilled workforce,
a stable industrial and business
environment, access to markets and
suppliers through a sophisticated transport
and logistics infrastructure, proximity to
leading higher education institutes and the
availability of suitable serviced property
with the correct infrastructure.
Companies located in Louth are within
easy reach of ten universities and higher
education colleges, three international
airports serving 290 destinations, an
intercity rail service, an uncongested
motorway, deep sea ports, a strong probusiness
environment and 35% of Ireland’s
young and highly educated workforce.
As a result, Louth is proving to be an
exciting location for new businesses and
is continuing to lead the way in attracting
leading international investment into
Ireland. Its strategic location, growing
reputation and the support of the local
authority all provide a competitive and
compelling offering to businesses seeking
to make key investments.
Companies located
in Louth are within
easy reach of ten
universities and
higher education
colleges.
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Ireland-China Business Association
Structural Steel Design | Steel Fabrication | Steel Erection | Cladding | Edge Protection Systems | Intumescent Painting | SIN Beam Manufacture
Irish Office
Kiernan Structural Steel Ltd
Carrigglas, Longford, N39 VN23
Phone: +353 (043) 33 41445
Email: enquiries@kssl.ie
UK Office
12 Walmgate Road, Perivale,
Middlesex, UB67LH
Phone: 00 44 2088 108708
Email: frank.kiernan@kiernansteel.co.uk
www.kssl.ie
www.kiernansteel.co.uk
45

Ireland-China Business Association
WuXi Biologics
Goes Global
WuXi Biologics extends its global reach from Ireland as construction gathers pace at its
new biologics campus in Dundalk; the world’s largest ever biologics facility using single-use
technology to produce medicines for patients worldwide
Brendan McGrath is Site Head and
VP Manufacturing of WuXi Biologics
Ireland. Before embarking on his
current role, Brendan held a number
of senior management positions
in blue chip companies including
Motorola, Aerospace Industries,
Organon, Schering Plough and MSD.
His latest position sees him manage the
development of the first ever biologics
contract manufacturing facility in
Ireland, built on a greenfield site.
WuXi Biologics, China’s leading endto-end
biologics solutions provider, has
chosen Dundalk, a town located midway
between Ireland’s two biggest cities
- Dublin in the Republic of Ireland and
Belfast in Northern Ireland – for its first
manufacturing facility outside China.
This isn’t the only milestone marked by
the project for it is also WuXi Biologics’
biggest investment outside China and
when complete, will be the world’s
largest biologics facility using single-use
bioreactor technology.
Brendan is responsible for overseeing
the construction and delivery of WuXi
Biologics’ Dundalk campus. Managing
the Irish development, he travels
frequently between Ireland and WuXi
Biologics’ headquarters in Wuxi city,
in Jiangsu province, as well as visiting
other WuXi Biologics’ sites nearby in
Shanghai and Suzhou. Taking a moment
out from his busy schedule, Brendan
explained to us just why WuXi Biologics’
development is a game-changer for the
Irish biopharma sector.
Developing Ireland’s reputation
in biologics
For Brendan, the importance of WuXi
Biologics setting up in Ireland is clear
and he sees it as a testament to the
foresight and diligence of those who
quickly recognised the potential of
biologics. In the early 2000s, IDA
Ireland, the Irish government agency
in charge of attracting international
investment to Ireland, began focusing
on biopharmaceuticals. In 2011, the Irish
Government through IDA established
the National Institute for Bioprocessing
Research and Training (NIBRT), which
provides world-class training to help
supply the sector with bioprocessing
expertise, in turn advancing Ireland’s
biologics capabilities and attracting the
mainstream global players.
Since Wyeth Biopharma facility (now
Pfizer) began operating in Ireland in 2005,
many of the world’s top biotech companies
have located major facilities in the country.
Today, a cohort of international names
with operations employing 30,000
people and exporting €54billion in value
annually thrive in Ireland, highlighting the
country’s global reputation as a leading
hub for biologics manufacturing and
regulatory compliance.
Biologics companies in Ireland’s
biopharmaceutical ecosystem include
Abbvie, Alexion, Allergan, Amgen,
Astellas, BioMarin, Bristol-Myers Squibb,
Lilly, Sanofi, Janssen Biologics, Jazz
Pharmaceuticals, MSD, Mylan, Regeneron
and Takeda.
“The significance of biologics for the
future of medicine was grasped by IDA
Ireland two decades ago and has helped
create the rich biologics ecosystem
which today makes Ireland a global hub
for the production of these medicines.
Recent years have seen an increased
focus on Asia, bringing investment
from South Korea, Japan and China,”
Brendan explains.
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Ireland-China Business Association
The new facility will recruit candidates with a wide variety of skills for roles ranging from project
management, logistics, regulatory functions and administration to process sciences, technical
services, commercial manufacturing and quality assurance, as well as science and chemistry functions.
The WuXi Biologics approach
Biologics has been described as a new
frontier in medicine and this is no
exaggeration. Developed in bioreactors
from genetically engineered microbes,
biologics medicines are essentially
drugs that are developed within living
cell cultures. This is no simple feat; the
manufacturing of biologics medicines
contends with several complexities and
the process involves the production of
fragile substances at heavy cost. `
These are some of the issues for which
WuXi Biologics offers solutions. Brendan
explains that a key differentiating feature
of the campus under construction
in Dundalk is the proven single-use
and flexible scale-out manufacturing
capability which WuXi Biologics provides.
“The growing sophistication in the
development of highly specialised
biologics medicines often involves
the manufacturing of relatively small
quantities of highly specialised drugs”,
he points out. “Generally, it is neither
practical nor economic to manufacture
small volumes of specialist biologics
medicines in traditional large-scale
biopharma facilities. Instead, the scaleout
technology and processes which
WuXi Biologics will operate in its new
Dundalk campus allow for cost-effective
‘Ireland will
be home to the
largest single-use
biopharmaceuticals
production facility in
the world.’
47

Ireland-China Business Association
M1 Corridor
Investment
Ready Region
Unrivalled Talent
The most densely populated region outside Dublin
2.25
MILLION
66%
AGED 20-44 YEARS
within 60 minutes of Dundalk/
Drogheda, over one third the allisland
population, and the only
region with growth forecast
- to 2.6 million by 2031
Urban-centric 34% of Ireland’s
population on 10% of the land
mass, in a region including 2 of
the largest towns, between the
2 largest cities.
The M1 Corridor
region is at the
centre of economic
activity in Ireland,
driving its future
Adjacent to the only EU/ UK
land border, and the only English
speaking EU country. A unique
urban-centric region with unrivalled
access to talent, connectivity and
infrastructure.
Supported by long term
government commitment under
Project Ireland 2040 to drive future
growth potential.
www.m1corridor.ie
Dundalk
Drogheda
M1 CORRIDOR CONNECTIONS
The M1 East Coast Corridor region connects Ireland’s two largest
cities, Dublin and Belfast, with the two largest towns, Dundalk and
Drogheda at its centre. The region offers unrivalled access to talent
and infrastructure. There are 2.25 million people within 60 minutes of
Dundalk & Drogheda, over one-third of the population of the island.
Education
M1 CORRIDOR TECHIRELAND
87,000
• A student population of 87,000,
The and M1 Corridor 58% of is all a university thriving hub enrolments
of economic activity with established
multinational 12 RoI Higher and indigenous Education businesses Institutions across multiple industry sectors.
The • Access region has to research already established centres itself and as a centre for global excellence STUDENTS
with facilities internationally DkIT recognised and DCU clusters with in financial services, existing and
emerging dynamic technologies, industry collaboration
engineering, life sciences and food manufacturing.
• 3rd level programmes evolving to
meet industry needs
CONTACT
Dundalk Chamber of Commerce
Partnership Court | Park Street | Townparks | Dundalk | Co. Louth.
Tel: + 353 (0) 42 933 6343
Email: paddy@malone.ie
Email: hello@m1corridor.ie
www.m1corridor.ie
48

Ireland-China Business Association
scale-out of biologics production from
small to large volumes as required.”
Factory of the future
WuXi Biologics refers to its development
in Dundalk as a ‘factory of the future’.
This forward-looking contract
manufacturing facility is uniquely
designed to employ high performance
single-use biologics manufacturing
technology. The facility will have the
capability to run multiple batches
simultaneously, delivering biologics
medicines at lower cost than traditional
systems can produce.
WuXi Biologics’ aims to lead the
production of new medicines, allowing
them to reach a wider range of patients,
according to Brendan. “As a leading
global open-access biologics technology
platform, WuXi Biologics’ global reach
and operations currently counts over 50
percent of the world’s leading biopharma
companies as customers,” he says.
“Reflecting our commitment to breakthrough
innovation in supporting the
production of new medicines at effective
cost, WuXi Biologics is working with
about 12 per cent of all the currently
known large molecules in the global
biologics pipeline while also actively
pioneering technologies for continuous
production processes, laying solid
foundations for exciting biopharma
innovation in Dundalk.”
‘WuXi speed’
Brendan is extremely pleased with how the
project has progressed to date, “Planning
approval was granted last January
and site development is progressing
at an exceptional pace”, he says. “The
foundations have been laid, the erection
of over 5,000 tonnes of steel - sourced
“As a leading global
open-access biologics
technology platform,
WuXi Biologics’ global
reach and operations
currently counts
over 50 percent of
the world’s leading
biopharma companies
as customers.”
49

Ireland-China Business Association
from an Irish supplier - began in mid-May
and by year-end the main buildings will
be enclosed and fit-out will be underway.
In 2022, commercial production in WuXi
Biologics’ Dundalk campus will begin.
We are hitting all our targets with the
efficiency we call ‘WuXi speed’!”
“This is all possible through the excellent
standards of our partners Wills Bros.,
Jacobs Engineering, IPS Engineering,
Kiernan’s Structural Steel Longford, ABEC
and a number of other contractors who are
working with us on the Dundalk facility.
We have enjoyed tremendous support from
the local authority, Louth County Council,
in locating in Dundalk as well as much
goodwill from the local community, which
is greatly appreciated.”
A bright future
Recruitment for senior roles has already
commenced and mainstream recruitment
is planned to start in the second half of
2019, by which time it is hoped that the
new facility will already be taking shape.
The campus will hire a total of 400 staff
once completed and WuXi Biologics plans
to hire the brightest and best.
“A green-field biologics campus
presents a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity for great talent to join us to
develop a full-scale integrated capability
to enable global partners to produce
some of the world’s most innovative
biologics medicines,” he says. “Looking
to WuXi Biologics’ ambition for its
Dundalk campus, we are inviting
experienced local and international
talent to consider if the WuXi Biologics
operations in Dundalk, or indeed in
China, might provide the exciting career
opportunities and challenges they may
seek at the leading-edge of biopharma
innovation and production.”
In addition, the facility is already
actively attracting an exciting worldleading
clientele, which, as Brendan
explains, “will create further major
career opportunities and underpin
future growth at Ireland’s WuXi
Biologics campus.”
Undoubtedly, WuXi Biologics’ decision
to locate in Dundalk represents a major
success for Ireland’s model of attracting
leading-edge biopharma investment,
reinforcing Ireland’s reputation
and capabilities as a global hub for
biologics production and marking an
important milestone in Chinese-Irish
collaboration. Through the array of
life-saving biologics medicines which
will be produced in the WuXi Biologics
Dundalk campus, for millions of people
globally, the WuXi Biologics Dundalk
campus truly promises to be ‘the
factory of the future.’
50

Leaders in
Life Sciences
The leading provider in the Life Sciences
Industry of technical, professional and
construction services, including all aspects
of architecture and engineering.
Everything is possible.
• Consulting
• Engineering
• Architecture
• Construction Management
• Commissioning
• Qualification
• Verification
Find out more at www.jacobs.com

Ireland-China Business Association
Jacobs:
Building on Success
“Jacobs has had a presence in Ireland since 1974 and it was our first office outside of the US.
The story of our arrival here is that we followed one of our clients and set up. Even though
we’re part of a multinational company, the operation here is very much an Irish success
story,” says Micheál O’Connor, Vice-President and General Manager, Jacobs Ireland.
Jacobs provides clients with endto-end
solutions in engineering,
procurement, construction management,
commissioning, qualification
and validation with revenues of
approximately $12 billion and a global
talent force of more than 50,000.
Globally, the company’s focus on
building long-term client relationships
has helped it to become one of the
world’s largest and most diverse
providers of professional, technical and
construction services.
As Micheál explains, relationships are
also crucial to Jacobs’ Irish operation:
“We get to know our customers’
businesses intimately and partner
with them to help them achieve their
objectives. That commitment to our
clients produces consistent growth and
means that more than 90% of our work is
repeat business,” he says.
In Ireland, the company employs 350
people in Cork, 700 in Dublin and around
75 in Belfast. Its staff numbers have
grown twofold in the past five years.
Allied to its partnership approach to
clients is the fact that Jacobs’ Irish
operation is renowned as a global centre of
excellence in areas such as biotechnology,
pharmaceuticals; semi-conductor, data
centres, battery manufacturing; facility
design and infrastructure.
Unsurprisingly, this reputation for
excellence and a deep knowledge of clients’
businesses are key elements to Jacobs
Ireland winning large-scale, advanced
facilities and infrastructure contracts.
One of these recent flagship projects in
Ireland was the Bristol-Myers Squibb
(BMS) Large-Scale Cell Culture Biologics
manufacturing facility in Co Dublin.
Jacobs provided architecture, engineering,
construction management and turnover
services for the facility. At its peak, Jacobs
had more than 2,200 people on site with
over 6,500,000 site hours worked to an
extremely fast-track programme.
“We are extremely proud of the fact that
the BMS project was delivered safely,
on time, and within budget, employing
state-of-the-art project/construction
and management techniques and tools,”
Micheál says.
For its work on the BMS project, Jacobs
won the Industrial Category prize at
the Irish Construction Excellence (ICE)
Awards earlier this year. The Jacobs team
recently received a further accolade
when it won an award at Engineering
News Record’s (ENR) Global Best Projects
awards. The industry experts who
comprised the judging panel examined
entrants across all categories in areas
such as safety performance, innovations,
challenges, and design and construction
quality- and selected Jacobs work for
BMS as winner in the Manufacturing
Category.
This achievement was especially
impressive as the ENR awards received
a record number of entries this year,
with 32 projects located in 20 different
countries around the globe.
“We were delighted to receive both
of these awards: they recognise the
52

Ireland-China Business Association
work of the dedicated Jacobs team who
supported the BMS project and are also
great endorsements of our commitment
to partnering with our clients to
deliver transformative projects that
truly impact lives of people all over the
globe.” he explains.
One of the other major projects in the Irish
market is on behalf of WuXi Biologics, with
Jacobs selected to provide construction
management services to support the
development of the company’s biologics
drug substance manufacturing facility in
Dundalk, Co. Louth.
The WuXi facility, which is modelled on
the “Factories of the Future” concept,
will incorporate best-in-class innovative
technology optimised for the flexible
production of a wide range of biologic
drugs for a global customer base.
When it becomes operational at its
26-hectare site, the WuXi Biologics
plant in Dundalk, will be the company’s
first contract manufacturing biologics
business in Ireland. Notably, it is also
WuXi Biologics’ first site outside China
and is also the first sizeable greenfield
project from that country to have a
presence in the Irish pharma sector.
Micheál says that drawing on their
existing relationships with WuXi was
vital in understanding the scope and
scale of the facility.
“Our partnership approach with clients
and prioritising relationships is key to
securing contracts for major construction
management projects in Ireland. Having
that connection meant we are uniquely
placed to deliver the WuXi Biologics
project,” Micheál explains.
Supported by the Irish Government through
IDA Ireland, the WuXi project is expected
to accelerate the development of biologics
in Europe. It will also help to increase
investment and jobs in Ireland, with WuXi’s
investment resulting in the creation of 400
highly skilled jobs over five years as well as
approximately 700 construction jobs.
“The WuXi Biologics plant in Dundalk is
a fantastic success story for Ireland. It is
a significant Chinese company making a
substantial investment and commitment
to Ireland, which is an extremely positive
development. Increasingly, companies
from China view Ireland as a gateway
into Europe and as an ideal location
where they can manufacture their
product for the European market.”
“Our partnership
approach with clients
and prioritising
relationships is
key to securing
contracts for
major construction
management projects
in Ireland. Having
that connection
meant we are
uniquely placed to
deliver the WuXi
Biologics project,”
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Ireland-China Business Association
One of the other factors attracting
foreign direct investment (FDI) here is
the fact that the indigenous engineering
sector operates to a world-class
standard, offering leading-edge design
and construction management services
for life sciences and date centre facilities.
Within this field, Micheál O’Connor
believes that Jacobs differentiates itself
by providing clients with end-to-end
solutions. In practical terms, this means
offering a full spectrum of services including
site selection, feasibility, permitting, the
full process of engineering - from concept
to detailed design and construction
management - into commissioning,
qualification and validation.
This integrated approach to project
delivery means Jacobs teams offer
laser-like dedication to clients and
take a practical, hands-on approach to
problem-solving.
“Our professionals work continuously
on complex and fast-paced projects.
All our team members are skilled
technically and solutions-oriented,
while our way of working demonstrates
everything that project delivery can be,
when technical expertise is matched
with the qualities of accountability,
reliability and decency,” he says.
Jacobs ranks Number 1 on Fortune
Magazine’s 2019 ‘World’s Most Admired
Companies’ list’ in the engineering and
construction category, and Micheál
believes the company has worked hard to
achieve this title.
“Jacobs has earned its position as a
market-leader by continuously striving
for the highest standards in safety,
quality, inclusion and talent development.
The integrity with which we approach
challenges, the care we have for our
people, and our willingness to spotlight
the ways we can improve ourselves, sets
the industry standard,” he explains,
adding that the company’s focus on safety
is paramount to its success.
“Jacobs operates to the optimum
standard in safety, and any contractor
that works with Jacobs is expected
to strive for and maintain this high
standard. Our strict dedication to safety
and uncompromising ethics creates
a work environment that promotes
employee progress. Our safety culture is
embodied in our BeyondZero® “Culture
of Caring” philosophy that inspires
mutual respect among everyone who
works for or with Jacobs. It creates a
commitment, active engagement and
provides the courage to drive excellence
in everything we do,” Micheál says.
“Jacobs has earned
its position as a
market-leader by
continuously striving
for the highest
standards in safety,
quality, inclusion and
talent development.
The integrity with
which we approach
challenges, the
care we have for
our people, and
our willingness to
spotlight the ways
we can improve
ourselves, sets the
industry standard,”
54

We are where you are
Delivering technically complex facilities on a global platform
EMEA Headquarters:
Birmingham, UK
Dublin, Ireland
Basel, Switzerland
Consulting Architecture Engineering Project
Controls
Procurement
Construction
Management
Compliance
Every day, our professionals apply their technical and operational expertise to help companies across
major industries create and manufacture life-impacting products around the world.
As a trailblazer in the EPCMV delivery method, we are able to offer our clients a single-source,
integrated approach to designing, constructing and validating technically complex research and
development, manufacturing, packaging, and warehouse facilities.
Knowledge, Skill & Passion
IPS-Integrated Project Services, Limited (IPS) • www.ipsdb.com

Ireland-China Business Association
A Solution
In Steel
Kiernan Structural Steel Ltd. (KSSL) are privileged to have been appointed as the main
steelwork contractor for the construction phase of the new €325 million biopharmaceuticals
contract manufacturing facility in Dundalk, Co. Louth.
The transformative investment by WuXi
Biologics, China’s leading biologics
medicine manufacturer has provided
a valuable employment boost for the
region and will create 400 permanent
jobs upon completion.’’
Kiernan Structural Steel Ltd.
(KSSL) have been charged with
supplyingapproximately6000 tonne
of structural steel, fabricated and
intumescent fire-painted at the KSSL
production facility in Longford. In
addition to steel erection services on
site, KSSL are currently supplying and
installing 45000m2 of metal decking,
with 70000 on-site shear stud welding
services. KSSL also provide temporary
edge protection system EPS, which is a
critical element on site to ensure both a
safe and fluent transition of follow-on
trades.
KSSL are also honoured to be working
in close collaboration with the project
design team, Integrated Project Services
(IPS), and the construction management
team on site, Jacobs Engineering. As
an integral part of this team, KSSL
are confident that this project can
be delivered safely and within the
construction schedule to the highest
level of quality, all of which are firmly
at the core of KSSL ensuring that client
specifications are both fulfilled and
exceeded where possible.
Kiernan Structural Steel (KSSL) is a
family business which developed from
humble beginnings. Frank and Dolores
Kiernan began their journey in 1989 in
a small second-hand shed with the help
of a welder, grinder and drill. It began
initially completing agricultural projects
in the local area. As time progressed KSSL
ventured into industrial work for clients
such as C & D Foods Edgeworthstown,
Glennon’s Sawmills Longford and
Hanleys of Rooskey. This was achieved
with the help of great employees and
state of the art machinery.
Frank and Dolores Kiernan are the
Managing and Financial directors
respectively and have built an impressive
56

Ireland-China Business Association
team over the past 30 years. Both
directors are a constant presence in the
company and are continually working
and collaborating with managers of all
departments in order to progress the
company and optimise performance to
the greatest extent possible.
Currently, there are over 180 people
employed in Ireland and the UK. Most
of their work is based in Ireland and
UK, but they have worked also in
Germany and are currently working
in the Netherlands. Their head office is
in Longford with a UK branch office in
Perivale London.
KSSL have acquired an enviable
reputation and extensive experience
from working across a broad range
of construction project types. KSSL’s
current core of clients are in the
pharmaceutical sector and on high
tech (data centres) projects. KSSL also
specialise in warehousing, multi-storey
carparks, office blocks, retail and
grandstands such McHale Park Castlebar
& the new state of the art Curragh
Racecourse Grandstand which boasts
one of the biggest cantilever overhang
structures of its kind at 45m.
KSSL provide many services which
allows them to be a headline act in the
steel works industry in Ireland & UK. A
full building envelope can be provided.
They specialise in design, detailing,
fabrication and erection of structural
steel. In addition, they provide an offsite
in-house intumescent paint service.
As part of their site works they also offer
the following services cladding, shear
stud welding, metal decking installation,
edge protection and netting etc.
Their fabrication facility is a 11,000m2
factory on a 10-acre site. Their facility
includes a large stockyard; in-line saw
and drill lines; shot blaster and plate
lines; fabrication and welding shop;
painting shop; and a large finished goods
storage area. This has resulted in a large,
economic and productive factory while
still maintaining flexibility depending on
the project type and client needs.
These services are supported by steel
erection and cladding solutions. They
have experienced contract managers who
supervise the smooth planning and day to
day running of each project. The contract
manager liaises with the client to ensure
proper communication and high levels of
performance on all aspects of the project
from site erection and administration.
KSSL manufacture the Sin Beam. The
Sin Beam is a light weight corrugated
steel beam ideal for long span roof
structures and footbridges. It was first
used in Glennon’s Sawmills in Longford.
In December 2018 KSSL erected the
first Sin Beam frame in the UK at the
new research and development facility
for Gallagher Group in Kent. KSSL
engineering team liaised with the
designer and trained them to use the Sin
Beam design software produced by the
Steel Construction Institute.
The engineer re-designed the frame with
Sin Beam rafters to utilise their high stiffness
to weight ratio and to reduce the connection
costs: the new design eliminated haunches
from the apex and eaves. The new frame
was more cost effective and stiffer than the
original design.
Eddie Greene - Senior Site Manager,
Gallagher Group said, “The Sin Beam roof
went up quickly, and we had comments
from the roofing contractor that they’d
never walked on a straighter, stiffer roof.
The whole project went smoothly, and
we’re delighted with the results.”
In April 2019 KSSL erected the first Sin
Beam rafters at the new digital reality
data centre in Amsterdam. The designer
originally specified 850mm deep cell
beams to span the 21-metre-wide data hall
roofs. KSSL engineering team proposed
to increase the beam depth to 1000mm to
utilise the power of the Sin beam.
The increased depth reduced the size of
the beam flanges while increasing overall
stiffness. In a standard girder the web steel
would get heavier or require expensive
stiffening. The Sin system, however,
uses a corrugated profile of 3mm thick
steel to resist the shear loads resulting
in significant weight reduction. KSSL
engineering and advanced manufacturing
delivered the best solution on time and to
the required quality.
KSSL’s head office is in a rural area
surrounded by farms and green pastures.
It has been situated in this environment
for the last 30 years and KSSL wish to
maintain it for the future. Therefore,
they work hard at maintaining high
environmental standards. They have been
awarded the ISO 14001 Environment
Management System. KSSL have worked
on several high sustainability projects
where the clients have requested LEED
environmental consideration stipulations
regarding the sourcing of their materials.
As well as operating the ISO 14001
environmental management system, they
have an EPA IPPC licence for the control
of paint emissions. KSSL is committed to
minimising the impact of its business and
its processes on the natural environment
around them through sustainable
practices and continuous improvement
of our environmental performance.
KSSL are members of BCSA & RQSC.
They were audited by the BCSA on
sustainability. They received Gold
Membership Standard for their Steel
Construction Sustainability Charter.
The company has completed a variety
of projects that have scored highly on
BREEAM standards such as Pallas Foods,
Kerry Foods GTIC and Guinness Brewhouse
at St James’ Gate, Dublin for Diageo.
Safety is a top priority for KSSL. “We
have a full time Health and Safety officer
and Occupational Health advisor on site
in Longford,” explains Frank Kiernan.
“As our work on site is high risk we have
highly trained Health and Safety Officers
on sites to maintain the high standard.
Safety is paramount, and it is included
in planning for each project from the
beginning. We have an experienced and
highly trained workforce and we provide
ongoing training to a high standard while
our workforce is very vigilant.”
KSSL work tirelessly to maintain a
high standing within the construction
industry. Kiernan Steel have been
awarded ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO
18001. In addition, they received the
CE marking for execution class 4 steel
project. Recently, they were awarded
BIM Level 2. Kiernan Steel are the first
steelworks contractor to receive this
accreditation in the Republic of Ireland.
57

Ireland-China Business Association
The Power of
Partnership
WuXi Biologics re-affirms faith in Team IPS
“Mighty oaks from little acorns grow”:
The evolution of IPS-Integrated Project
Services (Ireland) Limited personifies
age old adage which reminds us that
perseverance and effort and commitment
is indelibly linked to accomplishment and
high achievement.
Three decades ago, green shoots in the
city of Philadelphia led to the opening
of the company’s first office. Today, IPS
boasts 19 offices worldwide; one of which
is situated in Ireland.
The Dublin office of IPS – opened just
over a year ago - is the premier fullservice
provider of innovative business
solutions for clients who are invariably
leading lights in sectors such as the
pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical
device and diagnostics industries.
“Our mission is to service the life
science industry,” states William
McNamara, Executive Director
Construction, IPS-Integrated Project
Services (Ireland) Limited. “We are
fortunate in that we have a very strong
core of subject matter experts. They are
the bedrock of our company and are
very capable people in their particular
field; be it in the area of manufacturing
a product, to packaging, concept and
facility design and architecture, right
through to qualification.
“IPS helps the client formulate their
overall business case. Our success is
founded on a very strong SME base.”
Through operational expertise and
industry-leading knowledge, skill and
passion, IPS continues to build a huge
loyal and appreciative customer base.
In recent times, Chinese pharma giant
WuXi Biologics commissioned IPS to
design its new facility in Ireland. The
Hong Kong-listed global open-access
biologics technology platform company
will soon be operating a new biologics
drug substance manufacturing facility on
the Industrial Development Authority’s
(IDA) greenfield site in Mullagharlin, just
outside Dundalk, Co. Louth.
This state-of-the-art facility-ofthe-future
will be built upon the
novel approach WuXi Biologics has
pioneered deploying multiple singleuse
bioreactors for commercial bio
manufacturing and is also designed to
be able to run continuous bioprocessing,
a next generation manufacturing
technology to be first implemented
globally in this campus.
“The WuXi Biologics facility product
production is through single use
equipment.’’ What that does is, unlike
traditional facilities, it allows a rapid
changeover of product. So, WuXi
Biologics will start with one product
but their facility can be reconfigured for
other products.
“WuXi Biologics is moving up the
scale in terms of the technology they
deploy and because they are contract
manufacturers, they have to be flexible in
terms of the technology they use which
is a challenge,” explains McNamara
who boasts 12 years’ experience in the
construction management business in
Asia where he enjoyed working with
Irish people whom he says commanded
“a high level of education and a strong
work ethic and can-do attitude.”
IPS kicked off work on the WuXi
Biologics project in July 2018. Within
four months, IPS was putting packages
out to tender and by December last
year, McNamara and co were awarding
the first contracts before commencing
construction earlier this year. All done
with WuXi Biologics speed!
WuXi Biologics’s soon-to-be completed
plant in Dundalk will be the first sizable
Greenfield project from China in the
pharma sector. Naturally, as project
manager, the aforementioned McNamara
is delighted to be given the opportunity
to get his teeth and claws into such a
ground-breaking project:
58

Ireland-China Business Association
“I have been involved in the industry for
20 years and when you are involved with
a company engaged in manufacturing
life changing products, it generates great
excitement and enthusiasm. “Being
involved with these projects is very
rewarding. It gives you a real sense of
purpose when you are changing people’s
lives for the better. It’s what I like to do,”
McNamara adds.
“From my point of view, what we do at IPS
is fairly unique to the industry. We have
such a strong subject matter expert base.
“For WuXi Biologics, we are doing the
design and pushing out drawings across
all the disciplines. We operate as the
clients extended team. We coordinate
the whole delivery of the project in terms
of bringing together the architectural
aspects, the process, the mechanical, the
building services - all into one design
and coming out of one location that we
deliver to our clients.”
Knowing that they are equipped to
get the best available technology from
IPS and also the latest application
of regulatory standards is obviously
invaluable to firms like WuXi Biologics.
Being able to put together a totally
reliable, state-of-the-art facility that
will ultimately ship out a top notch
product reliably is what has gained IPS
such a lofty reputation amongst some
of the most top ranked, discerning and
demanding global companies.
“The fact that we are widely trusted by
our clients has been key to our success,”
adds McNamara. “That is critical to
clients like WuXi Biologics. They know
if they get an IPS design or an IPS
construction, it will come with a certain
quality because it is IPS. They know they
will be getting something that matches
the best in the industry.”
Presumably the smooth roll out of the
Dundalk project to date has benefited
from the trust that has been built up
between IPS and WuXi Biologics over
the years?
“Absolutely,” McNamara hastens to
confirm. “IPS has a long-standing
William McNamara welcomes guests
outside the IPS Dublin office.
relationship with WuXi Biologics.
“We have worked with them on a
number of projects in China. The
experience with WuXi Biologics allowed
us to transfer what we needed to
transfer from China and to bring the
European regulatory end and apply that
to WuXi Biologics’s design without any
learning curves.”
IPS obviously ticks a lot of WuXi
Biologics boxes; one of them being
the excellence of the technologists,
process engineers, architects, building
engineers, regulatory and compliance
professionals, etc. whom McNamara
works alongside on a daily basis.
IPS obviously ticks a
lot of WuXi Biologics
boxes; one of them
being the excellence
of the technologists,
process engineers,
architects, building
engineers, regulatory
and compliance
professionals, etc.
59

Ireland-China Business Association
“I think what WuXi Biologics really
appreciate is the people we have hired
over the years and the people we are
hiring for the project in Dundalk. Our
employees are some of the leading people
from a biologics point of view.
“WuXi Biologics have been able to see
that we have been bringing the right
people to Dundalk; people who could
bring the right sort of challenge to WuXi
Biologics in terms of design and ability to
deliver a cutting-edge design.
“I’d have to say that were it not for the
hard work and contributions of our
employees, IPS would not be the great,
successful, well-recognised and wellpositioned
company that it is today in the
industry. In order to grow in strength and
recognition, it is essential that we ensure
and provide the right environment for
growth of our valued employees.”
Good business sense is a language easily
understood all around the world and IPS
has a proven track record in delivering
a high level of customer satisfaction to
its global client base. Armed with an
intelligent, multi-lingual, flexible and
mobile workforce, the company has
continually raised the bar for itself in its
dealings with multi-national companies.
In adding value by minimising
risk, reducing the duration from
decision to delivery and streamlining
activities from concept to design to
construction through commissioning
and qualification, IPS has kept ahead of
competitors and consolidated its position
as a market leader.
And in terms of making sure there are
no obstacles to stymie their advance
in the minds’ eye of the movers and
shakers of industry in China, IPS has
also established a successful operation in
Shanghai, the economic and commercial
heartbeat of China. This greatly enhances
the product offering for Chinese
companies seeking to invest overseas.
“We have a significant team in Shanghai
which means we were able to work with
our team there with regard to setting up
the initial concept and the basic design.
The team had consumers language skills
and they were able to accurately translate
back to the team here what WuXi
Biologics were looking for.
“It has worked very well with WuXi
Biologics to date and actually to the
point where they expect this to be their
standard going forward!”
In adding value by
minimising risk,
reducing the
duration from
decision to delivery
and streamlining
activities from
concept to design
to construction
through
commissioning and
qualification, IPS
has kept ahead of
competitors and
consolidated its
position as a market
leader.
60

Wills Bros Ltd
CIVIL ENGINEERING CONTRACTORS
Road and Bridge Construction
Earthworks
Water Industry Projects
Waste and Energy
Industrial and Commercial
Landfill remediation
Leisure and Public Amenity
Marine and Coastal
Specialist Services
Wills Bros Ltd - Civil Engineering Contractors. Ireland
Ballylahan Bridge, Foxford,
Co Mayo. F26NP92
Phone: +353 (0)94 925 6221
Fax: +353 (0)94 925 7221
Email: info@willsbros.com
Wills Bros Civil Engineering Ltd
Maxim 3, Parklands Avenue, Eurocentral
Motherwell, ML1 4WQ, Scotland
Phone: 01698 479230
Email : ukoffice@willsbros.com
www.willsbros.com

Ireland-China Business Association
High Achievers
Wills Bros Ltd -provide for New Horizons for WuXi.
A major project aimed at providing
further enhancement to Dundalk Science
and Technology Park has got underway
and Wills Bros Ltd -Civil Engineering
Contractors are again at the helm in
meticulously getting the ground works /
enabling works and utilities installations
under way without a hitch. The project
when complete will provide for a
high-tech biological engineering plant,
facilitating the home and world markets
needs in terms of advancements in this
valuable and essential field.
Main Contractors
Wills Bros Ltd. Civil Engineering
Contractors were main contractor for
the project during the enabling works
phase which meant that during the
early months of this year the team were
busily undertaking bulk earthworks,
foundation and utility installations for
WuXi on site in Dundalk.
Established in 1972, Wills Bros Ltd (WBL)
is a civil engineering contractor which has
been at the forefront of the development
of the national infrastructure in Ireland
and the UK. The company’s head office
is located in Foxford, County Mayo and
it has also established regional offices in
Dublin, Cavan and Limerick.
A subsidiary company, Wills Bros
Civil Engineering Limited is based in
Motherwell, Scotland and has project
offices established throughout the
UK. WBL’s project experience ranges
from design and build contracts, major
motorway projects, road realignments,
site developments, water related
services, telecommunications, mining,
landfill sites, marine works, to leisure
and public amenity projects.
WBL is professionally managed to the
highest internationally recognized
standards, according to Contracts
Manager John Cunningham and it has
an integrated Management System
(IMS)in place that is accredited to the
most up-to-date standards to ISO
9001:2015(Quality), ISO 14001:2015
(Environmental) and ISO 45001;2018;
(Occupational Safety and Health).
“Utilization of our IMS ensures that we
deliver our projects to the highest safety,
quality and environmental standards
and to our client’s satisfaction,” says
Cunningham. “This is achieved via
control procedures specified in each sitespecific
Quality Management Plan and
through the utilization of the integrated
software platform (COINs) used for
procurement, commercial management
and accounting.”
True to form the WuXi project is being
delivered to meet the milestones set,
including those on safety, quality and
budget.
“Our site team led by Project Manager
Eddie O Keeffe have demonstrated
that through the experiences and
learning gained from the many previous
industrial projects undertaken, WBL
are setting the standards at a new high
and attaining same, bringing client and
customer satisfaction to a new level,”
Cunningham adds.
“All of our major projects to date have
been finalized well before contract
completion date. Our IMS procedures
include tight financial control of
all activities, both internal and
subcontracting wise, and we promote an
open approach to risk management with
the employer.”
Other IMS processes and procedures
for Customer Support include IP017
“Client Instructions” which sets out the
company processes to deal with client
instructions. IP006 QEHS Plans sets out
the processes for the development of site
EHS and quality plans which determines
what will be done, resources required,
responsibility, evaluation and monitoring
of projects. IP054 tracks customer
satisfaction and complaints and includes
customer surveys.
62

Ireland-China Business Association
Scope of Works
In terms of the scope of work at the Dundalk
Site Cunningham explains that it includes
all bulk earthworks for the project, the foul
water and storm water drainage, ducting
for power, telecoms, lighting, fire alarm and
security, watermain installation, fire main
installation and the excavation and pouring
of concrete foundations for all structures
on site.
The bulk earthworks consist of a site
wide topsoil strip, bulk excavation in
footprint of structures for foundations as
well as bulk excavation for access roads
and car parks and bulk placement of fill.
It also entails rock breaking as required
on site for access roads, roundabout,
drainage and ducting and excavation and
construction of attenuation ponds on site
The drainage installations consist of 1125m
of foul drainage and 2525m of storm
drainage. Meanwhile the ducting works
requires further excavation to enable the
ducting to cater for medium voltage (MV)
power supply, low voltage (LV) power
supply, public lighting, security systems,
telecommunication signalling and fire
alarm systems (83500m in total).
The watermain works consist entails
excavation for and installation of 225mm
HDPE watermain (1400m), with sluice
and air valves throughout the site while
the fire main works will involve the
installation of 300mm ductile iron fire
main (1440m), with sluice and air valves
and hydrants throughout the site.
The reinforced concrete works
undertaken for excavation and forming to
level for each pad foundation under DK1,
DK2, DK3 and DK4 structures include:
• 244 no RC pad foundations,7 no lift
shaft bases and rising walls, and 1 no
dock leveller walls and slab
• Installing earthing cables from the
pad foundation reinforcement to the
earthing network system
In addition to the above permanent works
Wills Bros Ltd were also required to carry
out a significant amount of temporary
works around the WuXi Biologics site.
These works included the following:
• Temporary haul roads throughout the
site to allow access to all areas of work
• Preparation of laydown areas and
works areas for other contractors
coming after the enabling works were
complete
• Construction of the temporary
compound and temporary car park
for 1500 vehicles for the Construction
Management Team (CMT). This
compound included:
• Foundations under all office units
• Drainage for the temporary car park
and compound
• Water supply for temporary
compound
• Ducting for the temporary car park
and compound for power, light,
telecommunications
• Footpaths and pavement for the
temporary car park and compound
Wills Bros Ltd are pleased to say that
they are on course to deliver their phase
of the works on programme and on
budget and with the arrival of Jacobs
Engineering on site to take over the
Construction Management of the project.
Wills Bros are delighted to hand over the
first sections of the manufacturing plant
(DK2 building) to Jacobs/the steel frame
contractor and provide for a smooth
transition from the groundworks to the
superstructure and follow on works.
“WBL are setting the
standards at a new
high and attaining
same, bringing
client and customer
satisfaction to a new
level,”
63

Ireland-China Business Association
Global Partners
ABEC’s integrated stainless steel and single-use solutions support
biopharmaceutical manufacturing growth in China and Ireland
Founded in 1974, ABEC, is a global leader
in the delivery of integrated solutions
and services for biopharmaceutical
manufacturing. A majority of the world’s
pharmaceutical and biotech companies
are ABEC customers and many of today’s
leading therapies are produced by
processes and equipment engineered,
manufactured, installed and serviced by
ABEC. ABEC’s comprehensive turn-key
capabilities and long-term commitment
to the industry have been key to the
company’s sustained success in global
markets, according to Brady Cole, Vice
President of Equipment Solutions at ABEC.
“Over the last 45 years, ABEC has been
an innovator in bioprocess engineering
and equipment design,” he said. “ABEC
developed the industry’s first automated
production fermenters in the 1970’s and
production scale cell-culture bioreactors
in the 1980’s. More recently, we
introduced the industry’s largest singleuse
bioreactor. The 4,000L CSR Bioreactor
is double the standard volume currently
available on the market, providing
higher productivity and significantly
lower cost of goods for cell culture-based
biopharmaceuticals. The system also
delivers performance comparable to
stainless steel systems of that scale and can
be fully customized for different products,
resulting in higher cell culture productivity
and faster process transfer and scale-up.
“We are the only company that provides
complete single-use, stainless steel, and
hybrid solutions, delivering the entire
bioprocess from the early conceptual
engineering phase right through to
commissioning at the site. Because of all
the efficiencies inherent in the integrated
model, we are delivering these projects
much faster and at a much lower overall
cost than the traditional model.”
“Whether adding capacity or improving
existing facilities ABEC’s turn-key
solutions and support services reduce
overall cost and time to market while
delivering maximum productivity. Our
unique value is based on long experience,
complete in-house capabilities, a
custom, flexible approach, and longterm
credibility.”
ABEC has been operating in China since
2009, and opened its first international
office in Shanghai in 2012 to support the
burgeoning Chinese biopharma sector.
Cole oversaw the establishment of the
China operation and engaged local
partners to help source office space,
recruit staff, and facilitate introductions
to potential clients. Since then, ABEC has
continued to invest resources in China.
Cole was also front and centre in
2015 when ABEC established a centre
of excellence in Fermoy, Co. Cork,
Ireland to serve a growing number
of regional and European clients. The
company’s 8,000 square metre Fermoy
facility has complete manufacturing,
engineering, and automation capabilities
including an ISO-7 cleanroom for CSR
disposable container manufacturing. In
addition, ABEC acquired Kells Stainless
Ltd., a leading supplier of process
vessels and related equipment to the
64

Ireland-China Business Association
“We are the only
company that provides
complete single-use,
stainless steel, and
hybrid solutions,
delivering the entire
bioprocess from the
early conceptual
engineering phase
right through to
commissioning at
the site. Because of
all the efficiencies
inherent in the
integrated model,
4,000L Vw CSR Bioreactor
we are delivering
these projects much
faster and at a lower
overall cost than the
traditional model.”
biopharmaceutical industry, located
in Kells, Co. Meath. ABEC now offers
the largest global biopharmaceutical
manufacturing capacity in the industry.
With close to a total of 318,000ft² =
32,000m² in manufacturing space,
ABEC’s capability to build equipment
and complex large-scale system
configurations for factory acceptance
testing (FAT) is unrivaled.
Last year ABEC Kells received
certification from the People’s Republic
of China as a qualified manufacturer of
pressure vessels and components for
use in China. ABEC Kells is the second
of ABEC’s facilities to obtain its China
Manufacture License (CML). ABEC’s
Springfield, MO USA facility has held
ABEC Fermoy
its CML since 2010. ABEC was awarded
the CML for its Kells facility after a
rigorous audit of its vessel engineering,
manufacturing and quality processes by
the China Special Equipment Inspection
& Research Institute (CSEI).
Pressure vessels are critical components
of the systems used to manufacture
biopharmaceuticals and the CML for Kells
allows ABEC to provide fully-compliant
systems from both the US and Europe,
ensuring consistent and flexible supply to
customers in China.
“In China, Ireland, and around the
world, we are helping customers create
an advanced factories of the future, ones
which offers unprecedented flexibility,
responsiveness and productivity,” said
Cole. “A growing number of customers
need to be able to seamlessly change
processes to support multiple products.
They also need to be cost competitive
and our large-scale, single-use
technology delivers economies of scale
unrivalled by any other single-use
technology on the market.”
65

Ireland-China Business Association
Talent Spotters
Asset Recruitment specialises in finding the right
engineering leadership and project talent for major biotech,
pharmaceutical and engineering projects.
Asset Recruitment Ltd. has built a
strong reputation in sourcing the finest
engineering talent to both lead and
manage major projects both in Ireland
and beyond. Its impressive portfolio of
clients features the best in European, US
and Asian market leaders across biotech,
pharmaceutical and engineering.
The company’s unrivalled knowledge
of both domestic and international
markets, the enviable reputation which
it has established and the close working
partnerships which it enjoys with major
clients have all been instrumental in the
growth and success of the company,
according to Michael Shalloe, founder
and Managing Director at Asset. “We
have been successful in building a
broad network and a strong reputation
amongst the engineering community
while working with and understanding
the demands and needs of our key clients
on a project by project basis and that has
been key to our success,” he says.
Ensuring that the optimum leadership
and management team is allocated
to each project is a core priority for
Asset Recruitment and a fundamental
factor in the success of any enterprise,
according to Michael. “Securing the right
leadership is the best recipe for ensuring
a successful outcome and is a critical
factor in attracting both experienced and
up and coming engineering talent to any
new project,” he says.
“Understanding the timelines and the
aspirations of our clients and advising
on the best direction to take, comes with
experience and having a deep-rooted
knowledge of the local and international
market, as Asset does. This helps us
advise on and manage the process in a
seamless and structured way.”
The company’s formidable track record
and the high regard in which it is held
saw the company being awarded the
prestigious contract to source the
expertise required when leading Chinese
Biologics manufacturer, WuXi Biologics,
chose Dundalk as the site for a new
€325m start-of-the-art biologics facility.
Set to be the world’s largest single-use
biologics manufacturing facility, the
WuXi Biologics facility in Dundalk is set
to create over 400 high-value jobs in the
coming years.
Working with Brendan McGrath, Site
Head and VP Manufacturing of WuXi
Biologics Ireland and his team has been
an insightful and rewarding experience,
according to Michael. “Brendan clearly
set out his needs and timelines and set
us the challenge of the finding the best
talent in the market in order to make this
project a real success,” he says.
“The reputation of WuXi Biologics in its
own market was the icing on the cake
in terms of generating real interest in
this project. The level of investment and
the longer-term plan for this project
coupled with the benefits of working
in a large regional town helped Asset
Michael Shalloe
Managing Director
ASSET RECRUITMENT
The culture and business practices
which are firmly ingrained within
Asset are a source of considerable
pride for Michael. Equally, the fact that
Asset has unearthed the talent and
expertise which has been instrumental
to the success of so many significant
enterprises is also a source of
satisfaction.
“Staying close with our clients and being
there at all times to help them navigate
the process is critical,” he says. “Our
staff carry out extensive research before
sourcing prospective candidates and
then we carry out the initial vetting so
that we can present the right people
for consideration. Our reputation in
itself will always attract those who have
worked with us in the past, so we have a
sound network to add to the equation.”
Michael is confident that Ireland will
continue to remain a leading location of
choice for new and major investment
such as WuXi into the future and he
plans to have Asset Recruitment best
positioned to help both new and existing
clients as they roll out new projects.
“We look forward to continuing to
provide the quality, experienced and
skilled engineers in all the areas they
are required in order to ensure any new
project is a seamless success.”
greatly in attracting real interest from
many engineering professionals. Working
with WuXi Biologics has also greatly
helped us understand and appreciate the
Chinese business culture. We see Chinese
investment in such projects in Ireland
as being just the beginning and we both
hope and plan to work with many more
Asian headquartered clients.”
66

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manufactured by processes and equipment
engineered, manufactured, installed and
serviced by ABEC. ABEC’s unique value is
based on long experience, complete inhouse
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integrated solutions and services for biopharmaceutical manufacturing abec.com

Ireland-China Business Association
The Ties
that Bind
Despite increasing global challenges China’s economy is well placed to withstand
current difficulties, according to Grant Thornton which is highlighting a recent report from
the European Union chamber of Commerce which finds that more than half of the
European companies in China are looking to expand their operations this year
Despite the pressure of the slowing global
economy and the US-China trade war,
most companies from the European
Union with operations in China regard
the country as a top-three destination
for current and future investment,
according to the European Business in
China Business Confidence Survey 2019
produced recently by the European
Union Chamber of Commerce in China,
in cooperation with Roland Berger.
Sixty-two per cent of respondents said
they see China as a high priority market,
pointing to the integral role that China
plays in international supply chains.
The survey, which collected feedback
and data from a wide cross-section of
industries, including the service and
manufacturing sectors, found that 56
per cent of respondents are looking to
expand their operations this year.
Nonetheless European countries share
many of the concerns articulated by the
US when it levied new tariffs on Chinese
goods and launched the first salvo in the
ongoing trade war. The chamber report
said China’s reform and opening up has
Dara Kelly, Grant Thornton
failed to keep pace with rapid economic
growth and European firms continue
to complain about restrictions on
market access and regulatory obstacles,
two longstanding issues that foreign
companies face.
A large majority of members expect
regulatory obstacles to, at worst, increase
significantly over the next five years or, at
best, remain the same. Meanwhile, Stateowned
enterprises are present in more
than two-thirds of the economy, and are
dominant in key sectors. Furthermore, a
fifth of members report feeling compelled
to transfer technology as a condition
for market access, with many of these
transfers having taken place in 2018.
“One of the more significant
shortcomings of China’s reform agenda
is that certain high-level promises to
improve its business environment for
international companies have failed to
translate into concrete action,” it said.
While respondents to the survey opposed
the blunt use of tariffs, which have
impacted US-bound exports of 25% of
survey respondents, they believe the trade
war allied to the slowing global economy
has makes the removal of remaining
market access barriers, regulatory
burdens and unequal enforcement, along
with the remnants of China’s planned
economy, all the more necessary.
Creating the open and fair market that
European companies expect of China
would also remove any justification for
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Ireland-China Business Association
EUROPEAN BUSINESS IN CHINA
BUSINESS CONFIDENCE
SURVEY 2019
Optimism on growth over the next two
years dropped from 62% in 2018 to
45% in 2019.
47% of respondents expect the number
of regulatory obstacles to increase in
the next five years, and 25% expect the
number will stay the same.
About half of respondents expect it
will take five years to see competitive
neutrality realised, while a third never
expect it to be realised.
Grant Thornton Dublin office
20% of respondents felt compelled to
transfer technology as a condition for
market access, nearly two thirds of which
occurred over the last two years, and a
quarter of which were taking place at the
time the survey was being conducted.
the ongoing US-China Trade War. Over
a third of the 585 European companies
that responded to the survey said they
had been negatively affected by the tariffs
imposed by the US and China. However,
only 6% of companies have moved or are
considering moving relevant production
out of China. But the report warns that
any escalation of tensions would “take a
heavy toll on business sentiment, leading
to a tightening of investments,” the
chamber said in the report.
While few companies are yet making
significant changes to their China strategy,
fears that tensions will escalate saw the
trade war ranked fourth on the list of
concerns over future business, outranked
only by the Chinese and global economic
slowdowns and rising labour costs.
The EU Chamber of Commerce report
also highlighted the continued concerns
about forced technology transfers, with
20% of respondents saying they had felt
compelled to hand over know-how in
order to maintain market access. This
was an increase from 10% in 2017, and
was a particular issue in high-value,
high-tech industries such as chemicals
and petroleum, medical devices,
pharmaceuticals and cars.
However, in spite of such challenges,
European firms still saw revenue growth
and strong EBIT, all while further
boosting their competitiveness. European
commitment to the market remains
high - in no small part as a result of the
vibrant and innovative private sector.
For many European companies,
developing the Chinese market is
no longer just about being close to
customers, but is also about access
and exposure to the cutting- edge
innovations of Chinese entrepreneurs.
Sixty-two percent of companies
surveyed said their Chinese peers
are equally or more innovative than
European firms in 2019, the second
year a majority of respondents said
that. Eighty-one percent think this is
an opportunity, probably because it
leads to better suppliers and stronger
competition, according to the survey.
The survey indicated that there is vast
untapped potential in the EU-China
investment relationship, with 65 per cent
of members reporting that they would
be likely to increase their investment if
they were granted greater access to the
Chinese market.
Foreign direct investment in China rose
6.4 per cent year-on-year to 305.2 billion
yuan (£35 billion) in the first four months
of this year, and the European Union’s
FDI in China rose 17.7 per cent.
“China remains a critical market for
European companies, dispelling the
notion of economic decoupling,” said
Mats Harborn, president of the European
Union Chamber of Commerce in China.
“However, the presence of voices calling
for such steps makes it all the more
urgent that Chinese policy-makers
quickly put in place an open, fair,
predictable and well-regulated market.”
“The survey
indicated that there
is vast untapped
potential in the EU-
China investment
relationship, with 65
per cent of members
reporting that they
would be likely
to increase their
investment if they were
granted greater access
to the Chinese market.”
Dara Kelly, Grant Thornton
69

Ireland-China Business Association
Bord Bia
Taps into China
With China it’s all about connecting ... naturally.
Three years ago, while on a trade mission
to Asia the Bord Bia CEO predicted that
China would become the first billion euro
market for Irish food and drink exports
outside the UK within three years. At
the time Irish agri-food exports to the
country stood at just over €600m and
the prediction appeared ambitious.
However, last year agri-food exports
to China touched the €800m mark and
the €1bn target is increasingly in sight.
What is not in doubt is the fact that
serious opportunities exist in China for
Irish food producers and manufacturers.
The evolving yet discerning tastes of the
denizens of Shanghai, Beijing and other
burgeoning cities in China is providing
plenty of food for thought for Irish food
and drink exporters of all sizes.
And there to see that Irish companies
do make a meal out of their attempts
at benefiting from Ireland’s growth in
its agri-foods exports to China is Ailish
Forde, Bord Bia’s recently appointed new
Director of Markets.
“There’s been nearly a fourfold increase in
the value of our agri-foods exports to China
over the last 10 years so you can see that
represents serious growth,” Forde enthuses.
“The market in China has been growing
at a fantastic rate and we remain on an
upward trajectory.
“Bord Bia has been doing a lot of work in
terms of prioritising our exports markets,
particularly in the last three years and
one of the things we discovered is that
China emerged as our top sector in dairy,
pigmeat and seafood.”
Not surprisingly, dairy is currently
Ireland’s biggest export to China; most
of it heading to the world super power in
the form of nutritional powder which is
key to the infant formula sector. Bakery
products, cream and cheese from Ireland
are also fast becoming de rigueur in
Asia’s power block.
We learn from Galway-born Forde that
windows of opportunity abound for
those company bosses in Ireland who
are brave enough and savvy enough
to identify and explore what Chinese
consumers want on their domestic
kitchen, restaurant and hotel tables.
In tourism parlance, Irish Food Inc. is
said to be a hidden gem just waiting to be
discovered by the people of China.
“Consumers in Europe know Ireland but
in the more distant markets, that is not
generally the case. Ireland is not well
known in the Asian markets,” says Forde
who, in her current role, is managing all
Bord Bia`s overseas markets.
“A lot of our recent strategy has been
geared towards creating an awareness of
Ireland as a source of safe, natural and
sustainable food.
“We emphasise our safety food credentials
and also our security of supply. We can
have supply all year round unlike some
other countries which may suffer from
drought or other extreme weather events.
We’re fortunate in that we have a very
temperate climate and that is why we are
such a good food producer.”
Embossing quality food from Ireland on
the psyche of the average Chinese citizen
will take time though. In that respect,
the Bord Bia policy is based around a
long term strategy that is focussed on
identifying target markets and thereafter
the valuable sectors therein. A scattergun
approach is not on the menu.
“We look at the market in China, sector
by sector,” explains Bord Bia’s ‘erstwhile
Food and Beverage Strategy and Planning
Director.
70

Ireland-China Business Association
“We are constantly asking ourselves
could we really deliver to this particular
market or that market? When it comes
to dairy, we know we are looking at
nutritional powder and cheese which are
major ingredients for the manufacturing
sector and on a recent trade mission
to China we had two meetings set up
with the two main dairy companies,
meeting with ministers in the Chinese
government in the process.
“It’s crucial that we become aware of the
needs of industry in China and to look
and see how we can provide the Chinese
with solutions that satisfy them.”
Spreading the gospel of Irish food
in China; building partnerships;
consolidating existing growth markets
and identifying new ones are the principal
objectives of Bord Bia’s China team.
Ms. Forde firmly believes Bord Bia has
the capacity to make inroads into this
exciting and burgeoning market.
Speaking about her appointment to
the role of Director of Markets, Tara
McCarthy, CEO of Bord Bia commented
on how delighted the body was to
appoint Ailish Forde to such a key
strategic role.
“Her focus will be on supporting Irish
food and beverage companies get to
market and grow more easily, quickly
and profitably. Ailish brings with
her a wealth of experience from the
food and drink sector, which will be
enormously valuable to Bord Bia and our
client companies as the identification
and development of new markets is
more important to the sector than ever
before,” McCarthy stated.
Under Ms. Forde’s watch, Bord Bia is set
to capitalise on its forensic examination
of the vast market that is China.
“We tend to break it (Chinese market)
down channel by channel; retail
convenience and manufacturing, then
visible retail and online retail; then we
would look at it regionally.
“We find you are much better focussing
your efforts at those regions and channels
where we can get the most traction.”
Making connections is key to Bord
Bia’s modus operandi across all export
markets but especially so in China where
the personal touch is so appreciated
and respected. It appears Chinese
businessman much prefer the face to face
form of business relationship that the
phone to phone model”.
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Ireland-China Business Association
Avonmore milk in China
Bord Bia’s personal touch is manifest in
the attendance by people like its Director
of Markets at, for instance, trade shows.
dairy campaign; a consumer focused one
where we use key opinion leaders (in
China) to help us in that regard.
Ailish Forde
For her part, the personable Director of
Markets doesn’t begin to play down the
significance of Bord Bia’s representation,
and presentations, at trade shows in the
Orient:
“Just recently, as part of our trade
mission to China we attended some very
big trade shows,” the Moycullen native
explains. On those occasions, we had
what we call our master series which is
an event to highlight the opportunity
of celebrating the role Irish beef plays
in Chinese cuisine. I think such trade
missions are really important because
they raise our profile and bring a focus to
our dealings with both the government as
well as the commercial sector operating
within the agri-food industry there.
“When you are trading in a country
like China, the personal touch is really
important. The presence on Minister
Creed on these has been key to gaining
access to government Ministers and key
decision makers and we work very hard
to ensure that these connections are
fruitful and deliver for Irish exporters.’’
“Complementing our personal
appearances (at trade shows etc), we also
engage in a social media campaign to
heighten our profile. “We have a specific
“We carry out the social media work via
other platforms as well like WeChat.
“Our key message is that Ireland is a very
good source of safe, nutritionally strong
products for Chinese consumers. We
know food safety, health and nutrition
is very important for Chinese consumers
and it was a source of real pride to us all
last year when Ireland became the first
European beef exporter to gain access to
the Chinese market.”
And the effect such a breakthrough
has had on Ireland’s beef sector?
Transformational perhaps?
“Absolutely, it is because China is such
a significant market. There is such an
opportunity there. Right now, the
headlines are all about Brexit. In our
mind, it is not just Brexit, it is all about
market diversification. The UK is a very
important market but we do have to find
alternatives.
“China is now our fifth largest market
export for food and we believe it will
continue to present a really fantastic
opportunity for the agri-food sector in
Ireland going forward.”
Say cheese everyone!
Making connections
is key to Bord Bia’s
modus operandi
across all export
markets but
especially so in
China where the
personal touch is
so appreciated and
respected. It appears
Chinese businessman
much prefer the
face-to-face form of
business relationship
that the phone to
phone model.
72

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Export Information Portal
Market Access Export Information
Portal is a website developed to
bring together relevant information
on the full range of open markets,
products and the relevant certification
conditions for exporters. It is a useful
tool for exporters interested in the Irish
Marketplace, the Department of
Agriculture, Food and the Marine,
insure that the site is up to date as
new markets are opened or If any
certification conditions change.
MEAT SECTOR
SEAFOOD SECTOR
DAIRY SECTOR
IRISH SPIRIT DRINKS SECTOR
FIND OUT MORE AT
www.marketaccess.agriculture.gov.ie

Ireland-China Business Association
“There has been a
surge in the number
of Chinese clients we
are working with in
Ireland.”
Neal Parker
74

Ireland-China Business Association
Funding
New Frontiers
The history of BNP Paribas spans nearly two centuries and while its roots are in France, the
bank’s activities reach across all continents. Europe’s largest bank, BNP Paribas
is also a significant global player with a presence in 72 countries and a
global workforce of over 200,000 employees.
Comprised of three key constituent
parts, Corporate & Institutional Banking,
International Financial Services and
Retail Banking & Domestic Markets.,
BNP Paribas offers an extensive range of
products and services across many sectors.
A globally-recognised leader in multiple
disciplines, it offers solutions tailored to its
clients across capital markets, securities
services, financing, treasury and financial
advisory. Areas of expertise include
structured financing, derivatives and risk
management, among others.
In 1973 following Ireland’s decision to
join the EEC (now the ‘EU’) together
with Britain, BNP Paribas entered the
Irish market in keeping with its policy
of establishing a presence in every EU
member state. According to Neal Parker,
Relationship Manager, the remarkable
economic transformation which has
occurred in Ireland in recent decades
is due in large part to the decision to
adopt EEC membership and open up the
economy to the outside world.
“BNP Paribas was confident that EEC
membership would spur growth,
particularly in a lesser developed member
state and when Ireland joined in 1973,
the decision was made to open an office
in Dublin,” he explains “Our activities
in the Irish market are primarily centred
around corporate and institutional
banking and we provide the broad range
of services and activities required by
our clients. The BNP Paribas brand in
Ireland is very much targeted at the
top tier of companies and investors and
our principal client base and key target
market are the leading corporations and
institutions which are present and active
in Ireland in ever greater numbers.
“We are a fully-fledged branch of BNP
Paribas SA and we benefit from the A+
credit rating, which ensures that our
clients can be confident they are dealing
with a safe, trusted and highly respected
institution with roots that date back 200
years ago and an established presence in
Ireland for 46 years.”
Mirroring the diversity of the wider group
model, BNP Paribas in Ireland is active
across multiple disciplines including
Corporate and Institutional Banking,
Securities Services comprising both
Custody and Administration Services and
Real Estate Services. The Irish operation
also provides IFSC based services to
the wider Group internationally and a
comprehensive range of client solutions
including liquidity management (cash
management, trade finance, forex), supply
chain solutions and corporate finance.
The bank has grown and evolved
significantly during its tenure in Ireland.
Today, BNP Paribas has a substantial
on-the-ground presence in Ireland and
employs more than 650 staff, the majority
of whom are located in Dublin. It’s Galway
base is also expanding and now accounts
for more than 90 employees.
“It has been a successful journey for
BNP Paribas in Ireland,” says Neal. “The
business franchises have expanded and
our Corporate & Institutional Bank is a
leading provider to the top corporates
and institutions which are present
in Ireland. We have a very large fund
franchise as well as a custody bank, a
fund administrator and a global trustee
business.”
75

Ireland-China Business Association
In addition, Ireland is the headquarters
for BNP Paribas servicing of alternative
investment funds and BNP Paribas
Ireland has expanded into other areas
of business including insurance, fleet
management, real estate consultancy
and advisory services. It is active
across multiple sectors and has a
particularly strong presence in aviation,
pharmaceuticals and the wider
technology sector. It also provides
services to Irish state, semi-state and the
largest Irish corporates.
The real estate advisory business is also
flourishing, according to Neal and one of
the most notable current trends has been
the substantial increase in the volume
of international investors now active in
the market. “There has been a surge in
the number of Chinese clients we are
working with in Ireland,” says Neal.
BNP Paribas is well positioned to
capitalise on the rise of China as a global
economic powerhouse. It was the first
foreign bank to open an office in Beijing
when China opened up to International
banks forty years ago. However, going
back further, BNP Paribas has a presence
in Shanghai which can be traced back
to 1860. In a culture which places great
value on tradition and the cultivation
of strong commercial relationship,
this unique factor and the extent of its
experience in China plays extremely well
to BNP Paribas’s Chinese clients.
The acceleration of two-way trade
and investment between China and
Ireland offers significant opportunities
for Ireland Inc., according to Neal. “I
think the potential is massive and it is a
two-way street with benefits for both
countries,” he says. “China is so vast
that Ireland only need capture a minute
size of the market in order for it to have
a significant impact. Relations across
commercial, diplomatic, education and
cultural activities are certainly moving in
the right direction and offer tremendous
potential for both countries.
“There is a degree of commonality
between Ireland and China which can
sometimes be overlooked. Historically,
we both have civilizations that go back
thousands of years and we share many
common values. Both countries place a
premium on relationship building, family
and respectful interaction. This can’t be
overstated because when all is said and
done, business comes down to human
relationships and the ability to build
lasting partnerships.”
BNP Paribas strong global footprint and
strong presence in China is particularly
attractive to Chinese investors
establishing operations in Ireland who
appreciate the ability to work with a
single bank with a strong global footprint
and high level expertise available across
multiple jurisdictions. “The majority of
the Chinese clients we were are working
with in Ireland are familiar with BNP
Paribas and have used our services
previously, whether it be at home in
China, Hong Kong or Singapore or
various other Asian countries.
“We have witnessed and participated
in the evolution of business all over the
world and we are ideally positioned to
assist those foreign companies seeking
greater exposure to Europe. We will
have typically worked with them in
their domestic market or elsewhere and
the sheer size and scale of BNP Paribas
coupled with our expertise and knowhow
and our long and distinguished
history makes for a valuable proposition
for any globally orientated company. They
can leverage off our skills and expertise
and plug in to our global network.
“Ireland is among the frontrunners
when it comes to suitable locations for
FDI and has had considerable success in
positioning itself as an international base
of choice for companies seeking to expand
into the EMEA region. Our significance
in this regard is a lot greater than our size
and a tribute to the Government’s strategy
for marketing Ireland.
“I think there is a lot of substance to
it. A huge amount of investment has
gone into the skilled workforce and
that is a really big plus for investors. The
age profile of Ireland’s population and
the openness to diversity, culture and
change and the willingness to adapt are
all factors which have contributed to the
substantial growth in FDI. That ‘Cead
Mile Failte’ does exist and plays a more
important role than we might imagine.
The tax environment is attractive to
BNP Paribas is
well positioned to
capitalise on the rise
of China as a global
economic powerhouse.
It was the first
foreign bank to open
an office in Beijing
when China opened
up to International
banks forty years ago.
However, going back
further, BNP Paribas
has a presence in
Shanghai which can be
traced back to 1860.
multinationals and the fact that we are
native English speakers in an EU common
law jurisdiction is also a plus.”
Neal is supportive of current Government
policy which aims to provide greater
regional diversity in terms of FDI and
says that ongoing effort to create these
high-calibre, high value jobs in cities and
urban centres outside of Dublin will be
critical in providing for a more balanced
rate of development nationally.
Otherwise the trade dispute which has
erupted between the US and China is a
cause of concern for many and Neal believes
that while it may result in a temporary
disruption to Chinese growth, the country’s
continuing upward trajectory is assured.
“China’s transformation over the last
30 years into one of the largest growing
economies has been an incredible success
story by any standard. As an economic
force, China will be with us for a very long
time and it is critical that we get along and
focus on establishing positive and mutually
beneficial relationships.
76

Ireland-China Business Association
Make your home with us
Loughshinny Nursing Home
Nestling between Skerries and Rush in North County Dublin, Loughshinny is a quaint seaside
village with a sheltered cove-like beach and an active fishing harbour. We provide the highest
standard of care and treatment to all our residents and the preservation of their dignity and
privacy is paramount at Loughshinny Nursing Home.
For further information contact:
Blackland, Ballykea,
Skerries, Co. Dublin,
K34 DV78
+353 (0) 87 225 5202
info@bartrahealthcare.ie
July 2019
77

Ireland-China Business Association
The Ties
that Bind
The increasing strategic complementarities which are driving
China and Ireland closer are examined in a report by PwC
China’s current context
In 2018, China’s GDP growth stabilised to
6.6% in the context of uncertain global
growth, trade wars and geopolitical
uncertainty. The trade impasse between
the United States (US) and China
continues, driving down China’s April
trade surplus from an expected $35
billion to $13.84 billion. Against this
backdrop, the Chinese Communist Party
has laid down areas of focus in its recent
Two Sessions held in March, further
reinforcing recent political focus on
deepening research and the development
of high-technology, big data and artificial
intelligence industries and committed to
a continued reduction in business costs.
According to PwC’s 2019 Global CEO
survey, unsurprisingly, China’s CEOs’
reliance on the US for growth has
dropped to 17% from 59% in 2018 and
respondents are seeking to diversify
their markets for growth. For quarter
one 2019, the European Union (EU) was
China’s largest trading partner, followed
by the ASEAN region and thirdly the US.
Currently, China and Europe trade on
average over €1 billion a day.
With shifting trade patterns, Brexit, etc.
this is an opportune time for European
countries such as Ireland to realise their
strategic opportunities and promote
Ireland’s strategic sectors as open for
business. Ireland is at an added advantage
to capitalise on this opportunity in a post-
Brexit era as the largest English speaking
country of the EU together with its ease
of doing business, political stability, open
labour market and skilled talent pool. US
companies have long used Ireland as a
gateway to Europe and Chinese companies
could apply the same strategy.
Experience Counts
Ireland offers a number of opportunities
to China as a strategic partner in Europe
going forward. Just as Ireland’s Shannon
Free Zone inspired Chinese policies for
economic development on reform and
opening up in 1978, Ireland’s worldclass
experience in high-technology,
pharmaceuticals/biotechnology and
aviation finance may incite and guide
development of China’s earmarked
industries of tomorrow.
China’s technology sector is booming.
China’s innovative streaming,
e-commerce, gaming, social media
and telecommunications companies
are beginning to sow seeds abroad
in an effort to locate closer to their
expanding European customer base.
China’s e-commerce market alone is
expected to hit $1.8 trillion in 2022, but
these companies are expanding services
to overseas customers in an effort to
continue their extraordinary growth.
Ireland has developed an attractive high
technology sector that can be sure to be
of interest to these Chinese titans.
Over the last seventy years Ireland has
developed a rich network of highly
skilled technology professionals and the
biggest names in technology have set up
operations in Ireland. Satir was one of
the first Chinese companies in this sector
who established in Ireland. Ireland’s
increasing interaction with Chinese
companies in this space is evident in the
creation of the 2018 €150 million fund
by the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund
and China’s CIC Capital Corporation to
facilitate high-growth Irish technology
firms’ access to the Chinese market and
incentivise Chinese firms using Ireland as
a European base.
China’s pharmaceutical industry is
poised for continued high growth,
following compound annual growth
rate of 9.4% from 2013 to 2017. China’s
increased strategic focus in recent years
on innovation in medicines and medical
devices, and its ongoing medical reform
naturally shifts focus to Ireland’s
78

Ireland-China Business Association
Guilin, Guangxi, China
success story in this regard. Ireland
now boasts collaborative clusters
in pharmaceutical, biotechnology,
medical devices and diagnostics,
with nine out of the top ten overseas
pharmaceutical companies in Ireland.
The sector’s remarkable growth is set
to continue in recognition of our rich
talent pool, our government’s high level
of investment in third-level education
and its recent commitment to €8
billion to research funding to bolster
Ireland’s reputation as a growing hub
for research and development. WuXi
Biologics has recognised the role Ireland
can play in its growth strategy and
has committed to a large investment
in a Dundalk biotechnology campus;
Ireland being chosen as its location of
first ever investment out of China. Other
Chinese pharmaceutical and life science
companies are also considering Ireland as
a location.
China’s growing middle-income
consumer group has more than tripled
in the past ten years and is expected to
double again in the next decade. This
is making direct demands on China’s
aircraft leasing, agriculture and tourism
sectors. In each of these, fortunately for
China, Ireland has strong experience and
world-renowned capabilities.
China’s aviation industry is growing
rapidly, expected to surpass the US as the
world’s largest by 2022. Taking domestic
travel alone, air traffic has risen by 45%
between 2013 and 2017. Against this
backdrop of unprecedented demand,
Boeing has recently revised previous
estimates now suggesting that the
country will need 7,690 new aircraft over
the next twenty years.
Unfortunately this soaring demand is
placing considerable strain on a relatively
new aviation sector. China has piloted
several aviation finance policy zones
including Tianjin, but not unsurprisingly
for a new entrant in this space, the sector
is currently constrained by teething
issues such as financing constraints,
taxation restrictions and modest
interdisciplinary legal, accounting, risk
management and tax knowledge. Ireland,
as the world’s leader in aviation leasing
with more than forty years’ experience,
would be best placed to work with
Chinese institutions and guide necessary
development of this sector.
China’s e-commerce
market alone is
expected to hit $1.8
trillion in 2022, but
these companies are
expanding services to
overseas customers in
an effort to continue
their extraordinary
growth. Ireland
has developed an
attractive high
technology sector
that can be sure to be
of interest to these
Chinese titans.
79

Ireland-China Business Association
The Cliffs of Moher, Co Clare
More broadly, the Irish government
intends to enhance our financial services
sector further, in preparing the ‘IFS 2025’
strategy to drive continued digitalisation
and innovation in the sector. Ireland
already boasts 19 of the world’s top
25 financial services companies and
8 of the top 10 global aircraft lessors,
including a number of Chinese financial
services companies; Bank of China, China
Development Bank, ICBC, etc.
For flights bound for locations outside
China, Ireland may provide considerable
opportunity as a tourist destination. China
is the world’s largest outbound travel
market and is one of the fastest growing.
For Irish tourist providers China’s tourists
boast considerable opportunity, having
the potential to spend between three and
ten times more than the average visitor. To
incentivise further travel to the Emerald
Isle, building on the Beijing, Shenzhen
and Hong Kong direct flights, Tourism
Ireland announced it will double marketing
investment in China to a total of €1 million
ahead of its largest ever sales mission to
China, signifying the magnitude of this
strategic opportunity for Ireland.
Ireland may also provide answers to
China’s heightening food security concerns
as a stable exporter of safe agricultural
produce. China currently feeds 22% of
the world’s population with 9% of the
planet’s arable land, but its biophysical
and environmental limits are further
exacerbated of late by concerns around
feedstock, tariffs, future reduced imports
from current suppliers following recent
droughts and the African swine fever
contagion sweeping Chinese pig farms.
In line with increasing food security
concerns, inflation has risen by 6.1%
from April last year and inflation on pork
prices alone soared 14.4% over the same
period. China’s need for agricultural
resources and technology has driven
rapid growth in Chinese investment in
agriculture and food sectors abroad,
amounting to $26 billion registered
overseas investments at the end of 2016.
Attention from Chinese investors would
be a significant opportunity for Ireland’s
most important indigenous sector which
holds 8.6% of the working population.
On Minister for Agriculture Michael
Creed’s recent trade mission to China,
he confirmed the fast-tracking of the
inspection of Irish meat plants by Chinese
authorities, a requisite step in obtaining
export approval to China, and the overall
likely doubling of beef exports from
Ireland to China in 2019.
How PwC can help
Here at PwC we believe in the win-win
strategic importance of developing
Ireland and China’s trade and
investment relationship. For investments
and business involving China; language
ability, cultural awareness and a deep
China specific market knowledge will be
the key to success. The PwC network
has the best-in-field knowledge and
experience in China’s market and related
legal and compliance obligations, across
assurance, tax and advisory services.
PwC Ireland has over 3,000 and PwC
China have more than 17,000 highly
qualified, experienced professionals to
help businesses identify and maximise
the opportunities arising from the two
countries’ increasing bilateral trade
and investment. We are on a journey
to make PwC the leading tech-enabled
financial service firm in Ireland so that
we can better serve our clients in the
most efficient way going forward.
Address: Spencer Dock, N Wall Quay,
North Wall, Dublin Tel: 01 792 6000
Web: www.pwc.ie
80

Cork County Council
Comhairle Contae Chorcaí
www.corkcoco.ie
f @CorkCoCo
t @Corkcoco

Ireland-China Business Association
Legal
Bridges
Connecting Ireland and China:
With the onset of Brexit, Ireland as the only English speaking country left in the
European Union, is well positioned to attract the attention of not only Chinese companies
but also high net worth investors from China,
writes John Carroll, Partner and Ping Bai, Solicitor, Crowley Millar Solicitors.
In a recent Hurun survey, Ireland has
emerged as a ‘dark horse’ destination for
wealthy Chinese people. As evidence of
this, the 2018 Foreign Direct Investment
(FDI) Confidence Index, published by the
well-known consulting firm A T Kearney,
ranked Ireland in 19th place worldwide.
So what has contributed to the Emerald
Isle becoming a unique place for FDI and
its extraordinary performance over the
last 20 years or so?
It is fair to say that Ireland’s ability
to attract and retain FDI is the result
of a number of factors and consistent
policymaking decisions by successive Irish
governments over the last few decades.
At the heart of this approach has been
openness to global markets, competitive
taxation rates, significant investment
in education and membership of the
European Union. Though Ireland is the
external economy most vulnerable to the
UK’s Brexit plan, the country could also
‘greatly benefit from Brexit in the coming
years, enjoying strong substitutability as an
FDI destination with a post-Brexit United
Kingdom’ according to Kearney’s report.
Ireland is now home to over 1,200
overseas company operations that directly
employ over 200,000 people. Ireland
continues to attract businesses from
sectors such as ICT, life sciences, financial
services, engineering and business
services. Many of these companies
undertake strategic activities here such as
advanced manufacturing and research &
development.
Crowley Millar’s role in the
Chinese Market
Crowley Millar Solicitors is a dynamic
and well-connected law firm with
international links through membership
of Mackrell International, a top ranked
global network of independent law
firms (see www.mackrell.net). This
membership enables Crowley Millar to
provide clients with legal services on a
worldwide basis. “Our unique China Desk
employs a Mandarin speaking Chinese
Lawyer, who is qualified to practice law
in both Ireland and China,” says John
Carroll, Partner at Crowley Millar. “We
specialise in providing legal services, not
just to the Chinese community in Ireland
but also internationally to consortiums
and individuals based in China (and
other countries) and especially to those
interested in doing business in Ireland.”
2019 marks the 40th anniversary of the
establishment of diplomatic relations
between Ireland and China and Crowley
Millar look forward to facilitating further
development of Sino-Irish relations
and exchanges in various fields that will
assist mutual interests. “Our goals are
four-fold,” explains Carroll: “Attracting
Foreign Direct Investment, processing
applications for the Immigrant Investor
Program, facilitating export to China, and
providing legal services to the Chinese
community in Ireland”.
Attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
The advantages of doing business in
Ireland, such as its favourable rate of
taxation, its reputation as a mergers
and acquisition base for international
companies, its highly educated and skilled
workforce and its favourable business
investment incentives are all made
easily accessible to Chinese clients by
Crowley Millar’s local and international
partnerships (legal, financial and tax)
and dedicated China Desk. “Through
our understanding of Chinese business
culture, our China team has developed
an easily accessible platform for Chinese
clients to gain the maximum benefits of
conducting business in Ireland, whether
through investing in real estate or setting
up new businesses/purchasing existing
ones etc.,”says Carroll.
Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP)
The Immigrant Investor Programme
facilitates investors and business
professionals from outside the European
Union who wish to avail of opportunities
82

Ireland-China Business Association
of investing and locating their business in
Ireland. This program has for a number
of years been of particular interest to the
Chinese market. Due to Crowley Millar’s
proven track record and experience in
this area, they have successfully processed
numerous applications in the recent past
for Chinese nationals.
Under the program, successful applicants
can expect to receive a stamp 4 residency
in Ireland for an initial 2-year period.
This visa can then be renewed for a
further 3 years if certain conditions
are met. After this initial 5-year period
has concluded, an investor will be free
to apply for long term residency or
citizenship. Furthermore, the investor
along with their family members, are
entitled to work, study or do business
in Ireland. In addition, and quite
importantly, no minimum residency
requirement is set out, other than the
stipulation that the person(s) concerned
are only required to visit Ireland at least
once each calendar year. This is quite
an attractive option for many Chinese
investors due to their business or
personal arrangements.
Exporting to China
As the exclusive Irish member of
Mackrell International, Crowley
Millar has been able to facilitate Irish
companies to export their goods and
products to China through local contacts
there. Crowley Millar is very well
placed to provide this assistance given
the firm’s employment of a Mandarin
speaking Chinese lawyer. The fact that
“Our unique China
Desk employs a
Mandarin speaking
Chinese Lawyer,
who is qualified
to practice law in
both Ireland and
China. We specialise
in providing legal
services, not just to
the Chinese community
in Ireland but also
internationally to
consortiums and
individuals based
in China (and other
countries) and
especially to those
interested in doing
business in Ireland.”
Crowley Millar can assist in opening
these trade routes for Irish business is
very significant in that heretofore, Irish
entrepreneurs had to work through
various procedures and paperwork
and found it virtually impossible to
break into the Chinese market. Irish
companies can, if their products meet
certain criteria, secure the appropriate
licenses to allow their sale in China.
Legal services to the Chinese Community
in Ireland
Crowley Millar is a full-service law firm
offering a wide range of legal services
including Commercial Litigation,
Employment Law, Company Law,
Personal Injury, Estate Planning,
Immigration Law and Property
transactions. “With the establishment of
our China Desk, which is led by Ping Bai
from China, it is our intention to grow
this department by targeting the local
Chinese community for their day-today
legal work,” says Carroll. “Crowley
Millar is an active member of the Ireland
China Business Association and is fully
committed to serving the Chinese
community in Ireland,” he adds.
If we can be of any more assistance in any
of your business dealings, please call +353
1 6761100 or email Ping Bai at ping@
crowleymillar.com or John Carroll at jc@
crowleymillar.com
感 谢 您 对 克 劳 利 · 米 勒 律 师 事 务 所 相 关 中 国 业
务 的 关 注 和 兴 趣 。 如 果 我 们 能 为 您 提 供 任 何 帮
助 , 请 致 电 +353 1 6761100 或 邮 件 联 系 :
白 萍 ping@crowleymillar.com, 约 翰 · 卡 罗 尔
jc@crowleymillar.com
83

Ireland-China Business Association
EU Securitisation
Regulation
Oliver Orji, Financial Services Dept, ACSK Solicitors, 22 Bridge Street, Dublin 4
assesses whether the EU Securitisation Regulation imposes any obligation on
third country (non-EU) originators, original lenders, sponsors or issuers
On 1 st January 2019, the European Union
(EU) Securitisation Regulation (the “EU
SR”), took effect and hence replaced
prior securitisation rules.
The Regulation revolutionizes the EU
capital markets union by repealing the
existing sector-specific EU legislations
applicable to credit institutions (the
Capital Requirement Regulations “CRR”),
the banks 1 , Solvency II 2 and the fund
managers 3 . The EU SR replaces the
repealed provisions with an omnibus
regime, applicable to all institutional
investors (including banks, insurance
companies, pensions, hedge funds,
REITs, investment advisors, endowments
and mutual funds/UCITS) and originator/
sponsor-type entities (whether or not
regulated EU Securitisation entity).
Further, EU SR introduced the concept
of simple, transparent and standardised
1 Europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-690_
en.htm?locate=en
2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/
PDF/?uri=CELEX:32009L0138&from=en
3 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ.
do?uri=OJ:L:2011:174:0001:0073:EN:PDF
(STS) transactions which will benefit
from a more favourable capital treatment
for investors as compared to non-Simple
Transparent Standardised transactions
AND other securitisations.
Significant compliance obligations
are imposed on certain EU entities
that invest in securitisations. Article 5
requires inter alia:
1. that EU Institutional investors
undertake due diligence on originators
and/or the original lender to ensure
that credits giving rise to the underlying
exposures are granted on the “basis
of sound and well defined criteria
and clearly established process for
approving, amending, renewing
and financing those credits and have
effective systems in place to apply those
criteria and processes in accordance
with Article 9(1) of the Regulation”.
2. That third-country originator/original
lender grants all the credits giving
rise to the underlying exposures on
the basis of sound and well-defined
criteria and clearly established process
for approving, amending, renewing
and financing those credits and has
effective systems in place to apply
those criteria and processes to ensure
that credit-granting is based on a
thorough assessment of the obligor’s
creditworthiness.
3. The EU originator, sponsor or original
lender (whether established in EU
or third country) should retain on
an ongoing basis “a material net
economic interest” of at least 5% and
must disclose the risk retention to the
institutional investor;
4. To carry out due diligence to assess the
risks involved.
Article 9 requires originators, sponsors
and original lenders to apply to the
exposures to be securitised the same
sound and well-defined criteria for
credit-granting which they apply to
non-securitised exposures.
Any breach of the EU SR by originator/
sponsor attracts substantial fines (at least
€5 Million and/or up to 10% of the total
annual net turnover of the firm). The
potentials of third-country fund managers
and originators offering securities to EU
institutional investors or structuring
securitisations funded by EU institutional
investors are likely to be indirectly affected
by the EU SR’s requirements and should be
mindful of the fines.
84

Ireland-China Business Association
“Securitisation” happens when banks
and other credit institutions package
loans into securities and then sell them
to investors, where (i) payments in the
transaction or scheme are dependent
upon the performance of the underlying
exposure; (ii) the subordination of
tranches determines the distribution
of losses during the ongoing life of
the transaction or scheme (iii) the
transaction or scheme does not include
corporate “specialised lending exposure”
contemplated by Article 147(8) of the
Regulation (EU) No 575/2013.
The beauty of Securitisation is that it
allows banks to transfer the risk of
some loans to other banks or long-term
investors such as insurance companies
and asset managers. Thereby allowing
banks to use the capital that was set aside
to cover the risk in those loans to create
and sell new loans 4
Article 1(2) of the EU SR is clear that the
EU SR applies to institutional investors.
However, the term “institutional
investor” as defined in Article 2(12)
refers to entities authorised by certain
EU Regulations which apply to only EU
investors. One could assume on the face
of it, that only institutional investors that
are established or located in the EU (EU
institutional investors) will be required
to comply with the EU SR with respect to
their investment activities.
Under the previous regimes,
securitisation only applied to EUregulated
banks, EU-regulated
insurers and alternative investment
fund managers (AIFMs) either
established in the EU or with a full EU
passport. However, under the current
dispensation, EU SR has expanded
Institutional investors to include three
new investor classes, namely EU pension
funds (and the investment managers
who manage their assets), the UCITS
funds (whether self-directed or UCITS
management companies) and non-EU
AIFMs that manage and/or market
alternative investment funds in the EU
(even when they are only marketing into
4 https://ec.europa.eu/info/business-economyeuro/banking-and-finance/financial-market/
securitisation_en
the EU on a private placement basis).
For emphasis, there is no requirement
(direct or indirect) on any non-EU
participant to comply with the EU SR
where EU nexus does not exist (i.e.
each of the originator, sponsor, original
lender or issuer is established and located
outside the EU; and no EU institutional
investor invests in the exposures created
by that securitisation).
Following the EU SR requirement for
EU institutional investors to confirm as
part of their regulatory due diligence
that any securitisation transaction in
which they invest complies with relevant
requirements 5 , the EU SR may apply
indirectly to non-EU entities to the
extent securitisation positions are offered
to EU institutional investors.
Where a third-country (including Asia
Pacific) based or incorporated originator,
sponsor, original lender or issuer plans
to sell securitisation exposures to EU
institutional investors, that thirdcountry
entity would be indirectly
required to comply with the EU SR ex
ante because EU institutional investors
are subject to due diligence requirements
under Article 5 of the EU SR. It must
be emphasised that compliance must
be undertaken prior to investing in a
securitisation and also on an ongoing
basis. The relevant EU institutional
investor(s) is/are to confirm that any
originator, sponsor, original lender or
issuer involved in a securitisation has
complied with specified provisions.
Historically, the industry has been
accustomed to seeing that third-country
participants voluntarily comply with EU
Securitisation regimes and it is expected
that such voluntary compliance will not
be an issue going forward.
What are the big-ticket compliance
concerns in EU SR? Essentially, Articles
5, 6 and 7 are the big-ticket issues:
Article 6 - Risk retention – requires
a third country originator, sponsor
or original lender seeking to market
securitisation exposures to EU
5 Article 5, Regulation (EU) 2017/2402 of the
European Parliament and the Council
Any proposition
that EU investors
are not required
to undertake due
diligence on thirdcountry
participants
would appear to
conflict with the
policy objectives
of the diligence
obligations and the
EU SR generally.
85

Ireland-China Business Association
institutional investors to comply with
the risk retention obligations set out in
Article 6. This Article broadly requires
the relevant entity to retain on an
ongoing basis 5% risk retention in the
transaction. Pursuant to Article 5(1)(d),
an EU institutional investor would not be
able to invest in any non-EU transaction
unless the risk retention obligations set
out in Article 6 are complied with and
disclosed to the institutional investor.
Article 7 - Transparency and disclosure
require EU originators, sponsors and
issuers to comply with extensive
transparency and disclosure obligations
by (i) providing key underlying
documentation to investors, including all
underlying documentation that is essential
for understanding the transaction, (ii)
designate one entity to fulfil the disclosure
requirements and be the primary point
of contact in respect of the Transparency
Requirements; (iii) provide asset-level
portfolio disclosure and investor reports
on an ongoing basis, on the prescribed
template; (iv) Inside information and
significant events must be reported
promptly; (v) public transactions
information are to be disclosed to a
regulated securitisation repository or
where applicable on a website that meet
certain prescribed standards.
There appears to be no generally agreed
position as to the extent Article 7
disclosure and reporting requirements
apply to third-country transactions.
However, Article 5(1)(e) of the EU SR has
two pronged obligations - the obligation
of EU institutional investors to conduct
due diligence under Article 5 and the
obligation of originators, sponsors
and issuers to provide information to
investors under Article 7.
While decisive interpretation of Article
5(1)(e) is pivotal to analysis of the
applicability of Article 7 to non-EU
transactions 6 . Article 5(1)(e) requires
institutional investors to verify that
“an originator, sponsor or issuer has,
where applicable, made available the
information required by Article 7 in
accordance with the frequency and
6 See Clifford Chance – the EU Securitisation
Regulation – Considerations for Asia Pacific
issuers, originators, sponsors and their Advisors.
modalities provided for in that Article.”
The use of the words “where applicable”
in Article 5(1)(e) has invited uncertainties
as to whether Article 7 applies to non-
EU transactions or not, hence different
interpretations abound. One such
interpretation is that Article 5(1)(e) is
not applicable to non-EU originators,
sponsors or issuers in any event because
(i) given that non-EU entities are out
of jurisdiction entities, EU institutional
investors need not check that Article 7
disclosure obligations are complied with
by these non-EU originators, sponsors
and issuers; and (ii) Institutional
investors are only required to verify
compliance with Article 7 by entities to
which Article 7 actually applies (i.e. EU
entities) rather than in all cases.
What this interpretation suggests is that
third-country entities are excluded from
any obligation to complying with the Article
7 due diligence and reporting requirements,
even when the transaction is being
marketed to EU institutional investors.
Another school of thought considers that
Article 7 requirements differ between
private and public transactions on
the first part and specific asset classes
on the second part. Article 5(1) is
therefore interpreted to mean that an EU
institutional investor must determine the
type of information that it would need to
receive from the originator, sponsor or
issuer in order to evidence its compliance
with the Article 5 due diligence
requirements. It has been argued that
third-country originators, sponsors
or original lenders would indirectly be
caught by Article 7, to the extent that
there are EU institutional investors
in their transactions, because EU
institutional investors cannot invest in
securitisations that do not comply with
the Article 7 transparency requirements.
Any proposition that EU investors are not
required to undertake due diligence on
third-country participants would appear
to conflict with the policy objectives
of the diligence obligations and the EU
SR generally. The recitals to the EU SR
supposes that (i) that EU investors are
subject to proportionate due diligence
requirements to properly assess the risks
and make an informed assessment on the
creditworthiness of a given securitisation
instrument 7 ; (ii) due diligence is required
to enhance market transparency 8 ;
and (iii) to revitalise the European
securitisation market 9 .
Following from the above, it will be
safer to agree that the regulators and
policymakers intend that the EU SR
is interpreted in a manner that fully
undertakes required due diligence
and disclosure on third-country
securitisation participants. Additionally,
national regulators exercising
supervisory oversight function over EU
institutional investors expect full level
of due diligence by EU institutional
investors in respect of third-country
securitisations participants.
The key items for third country
originators, original lenders and sponsors
to consider when structuring their
transactions should include, whether:
(i) EU institutional investors are likely to
acquire and hold securitised exposures;
and (ii) does the relevant third-country
participant have appropriate operational
arrangements in place to ensure
compliance with Article 7?.
Conclusion
The EU SR has significantly widened
the scope of entities subject to the EU
securitisation rules and invariable the
scope of transactions that will be caught
under the compliance requirement of
EU SR. There are uncertainties in respect
of the applicability of some of the rules
given that there appears to be a haste
to implement the EU SR without clear
and unambiguous secondary regulation
prior to the coming into effect or the
EU SR. Participants are optimistic that
any ambiguity(ies) in the EU SR will be
addressed by the relevant authorities in
earnest, to enable market participants
align their policies and approach.
For further information contact Oliver Orji:
e-mail: Oliver.orji@acsksolicitors.com
7 Recital 9 of Regulation (EU) 2017/2402 of the
European Parliament and the Council
8 Recital 12 of Regulation (EU) 2017/2402 of the
European Parliament and the Council
9 Recital 2 of the Regulation (EU) 2017/2402 of the
European Parliament and the Council
86

ACSK Solicitors
Doing Business In China
ACSK Solicitors partners with Hong Kong, Chinese law firms and state agents to assist Irish businesses to
establish/develop in Hong Kong and China and also assist Hong Kong and Chinese businesses desirous
of establishing in Ireland and other European Union jurisdictions. ACSK Solicitors with its foothold in these
markets, speaks and understands the dynamics of doing business in Hong Kong, China and Ireland.
When setting up business in Hong Kong, China or Ireland, there are different teething legal considerations that businesses are confronted
with. ACSK Solicitors prides itself with experienced professionals and will walk you through the processes and guide your business to a
successful take-off by employing its market knowledge and subtle cultural nuances which can make big differences and impact.
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ACSK Solicitors
22 Bridge Street,
Ringsend,
Dublin 4
T. 01 66 86 905
F. 01 66 76 889
office e-mail: info@acsksolicitors.com
website: www.acsksolicitors.com

If your company is considering doing business in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), it’s vital for you to know
the workings of Mainland Chinese law and its effects on dispute resolution, to avoid ending up in a Chinese
court. To gain this understanding, it’s important to go beyond Acts and seek insights into Chinese society, history
and philosophy. And for that, we’ll need to look at how the law has traditionally been regarded in Chinese society.
Over the past forty years, the PRC has transformed the world’s economy while simultaneously developing and
reforming its own institutions. Yet the way in which the law is regarded in China is not what the Irish businessperson
may assume. Ask a law student in Ireland, ‘What is law?’ and while you may not get a simple answer, the Irish
student will generally view the law as sacrosanct. In contrast, Chinese tradition holds the law in low esteem.
For decades after the Chinese civil war and the proclamation of the PRC in 1949, no real effort was made to
distinguish politics from law. Since the opening of the country in 1978 under the de facto leadership of Deng
Xiaoping, the socialist rule of law became slowly part of the official policy. Professional standards have improved,
particularly in commercial law, and a less political and more institutionalized and codified system of law has been
established. On 1 October 1999 the Contract Act (“Hetong Fă ”) was enacted. This Act is strongly influenced by
the German civil code, and the interpretation of this Act is not on the letter of the text (as in Ireland), but on the
intention of the legislator – i.e. the purposive interpretation (as on the continent).
The essential difference between the law in Chinese tradition and the Irish rule of law is the matter of how
the relationship between law and morality is conceived. The great Chinese philosopher Confucius regarded
regulation through laws to be a matter of moral performance; he made no sharp distinction between morality and
law. In the Confucian ideal, morality is the highest warranty to secure social order, and this is regulated through
moral rules, constituting a code of etiquette - conventions (called Lĭ ( 礼 )) enforced by society, rather than the
state. The rules imposed by the state (called Fă ( 法 )) were historically limited to criminal law and regulated the
relationship between the state and individuals. The word Fă in Chinese does not relate to fairness or justice, but
is closer to Fá ( 罚 ), which means penal punishment, and Lü ( 律 ), which means written laws.
The contrast between Lĭ and Fă marks a distinction in Chinese political theory as to the nature of political order
and the preferred means of achieving such order.
In Ireland we’re told the tale of Jack and the Beanstalk, where Jack trades the family cow for magic beans which
grow into a vine up to the sky, to a giant’s castle. Jack returns laden with gold, and he and his mother live happy
ever with the riches (Fù ( 富 )). It’s said that the giant’s catchphrase was: “Fe-fi-fo-fum! I smell the blood of an Irish
man: Be he alive, or be he dead, I’ll grind his bones to make my bread.” However, what the giant might equally
have said was: “Lĭ, Fă, Fŏu,Fù !”. Arguably, the giant might have warned foreigners like Jack that if they didn’t
understand the dichotomy between Lĭ and Fă, they could never find (or would be denied Fŏu) riches (Fù) in his
kingdom. This is the same message we give at Herbots Solicitors to Irish businesses who venture into China.
Seek advice first: we can help you. In that regard, the new book by our Chairman and accredited arbitrator
with the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC), Dr. Prof. em. J. Herbots,
“Contracts in the People’s Republic of China,” is an excellent starting point.

Ireland-China Business Association
A Matter
of Trust
A premier provider of wealth and institutional services for M&T Bank, Wilmington Trust is
proud to be part of the M&T Bank corporate family, one of the most financially sound and
successful companies in the U.S. financial services industry. For over a century, its expert
guidance has helped generations of families and businesses realise their financial ambitions.
One of the 20 largest independent
commercial bank holding companies
in the U.S. M&T Bank is considered
one of the most financially sound
and successful companies in the U.S.
financial services industry. 1
Wilmington Trust has a strong global
footprint with operations in many
of the world’s key financial hubs,
including Dublin, where it provides a
wide range of services designed to help
its clients equipment or transportation
finance transactions benefit from this
jurisdiction.
Irish Owner Trustee services
Ireland is considered the birthplace of
aircraft leasing and is recognised as the
number one location globally in the
sector, with more than 50 per cent of
the world’s leased aircraft owned and
managed from Ireland and 14 of the top
15 global lessors having operations in
the country.
Benefits of an Irish Owner Trust
• Market understanding: An Irish Owner
Trust is similar to a standard U.S. Grantor
Trust, which is widely recognized in the
aircraft leasing community. Owner Trust
structures have been used for many years
for the financing and leasing of aircraft by
lessors, airlines, and commercial lenders.
• Ease of transfer: The beneficial owner
can actively transfer (by way of sale or
otherwise) the aircraft by assigning the
beneficial interest in the trust without
having to engage with the airline to
negotiate a formal lease novation.
• Reduced costs: The Owner Trust
provides lower costs as fewer aircraftowning
entities are required to be set-up
and administered.
equipment or transportation finance
transaction.
In particular, a Trustee should have
extensive experience, integrity, and
the resources to provide a multitude of
services that are associated with holding
bare legal title to your aircraft.
The Wilmington Trust Irish Owner
Trustee Solution
As Owner Trustee, Wilmington Trust in
Ireland would administer the trust on
behalf of and solely on the direction of
the beneficial owner.
As Owner Trustee, Wilmington Trust will
enter into a declaration of trust with the
proposed beneficial owner (generally an
entity of the lessor) and will also act as
bare trustee in order to hold legal title
to the aircraft for absolute benefit of the
beneficial owner.
1 Based on analysis of Federal Reserve Board
website data regarding U.S. based commercial
bank holding companies, as of March 31, 2019
Choosing a trustee wisely
Choosing the right Owner Trustee is
a critical first step when entering an
In addition, Wilmington Trust will
enter into a lease agreement or novation
agreement and contract directly with the
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Ireland-China Business Association
Alan Geraghty
Cliona O’Faolin
airline for the leasing of the aircraft and
act as lessor for such purposes.
The Wilmington Trust Difference
When Ireland is the ideal jurisdiction
for your equipment or transportation
finance transaction, you need specialised
teams onsite to meet your comprehensive
management needs.
Included among the wide range of
services provided by Wilmington Trust
are; incorporation and registration of
offices, independent director services,
corporate governance, administration
services, accounting services, and trustee
Caroline Magee
Chris Sponenberg
services (Note, owner, security, and
share trustee) registrar. It also acts as
transfer and paying agent, escrow agent,
and loan and facility agent.
Comprehensive and Trusted Services
Located in the heart of the International
Financial Services Centre in Dublin,
Wilmington Trust provides customised
services for your specific needs, with
personal attention and reliability. Serving
as your single point of contact, your
personal relationship management team
will coordinate any administrative needs
that may arise from your equipment or
transportation finance transaction.
M&T Bank Corporation:
M&T Bank Corporation data
(as of 6/30/2019)
• One of the 20 largest independent
commercial bank holding companies
in the U.S.2
• $121.6 billion in assets
• $97.6 billion in assets under
management*
• $15.7 billion in shareholders’ equity
• $89.9 billion in loans and leases
• $91.7 billion in deposits
• Tier One Capital Ratio: 11.06%
• Consistent profitability for the past
172 consecutive quarters
• From January 1, 1980 through June
30, 2019, M&T’s stock has been one
of the top performers in the U.S.,
with an annualized total return to
shareholders of 18.2%
All rights reserved. Based on analysis of Federal
Reserve Board website data regarding US based
commercial bank holding companies, as of March
31, 2019.
* “Wilmington Trust” is a registered service mark,
used for investment and other financial services
offered to trust, individual, and institutional
clients by certain subsidiaries and affiliates of
Wilmington Trust Corporation, including, but not
limited to, Manufacturers & Traders Trust Company
(M&T Bank), Wilmington Trust Company (WTC),
Wilmington Trust, N.A. (WTNA), Wilmington Trust
Investment Advisors, Inc. (WTIA), Wilmington
Funds Management Corporation (WFMC), and
Wilmington Trust Investment Management, LLC
(WTIM). Wilmington Trust Corporation is a wholly
owned subsidiary of M&T Bank Corporation. Assets
under management data are calculated in the
aggregate, and include assets managed by various
Wilmington Trust entities, including M&T Bank, WTC,
WTNA, WTIA, WFMC, and WTIM. Wilmington Trust
Company, operating in Delaware only, Wilmington
Trust, N.A., M&T Bank, and certain other affiliates,
provide various fiduciary and non-fiduciary services,
including trustee, custodial, agency, investment
management, and other services. International
corporate and institutional services are offered
through Wilmington Trust Corporation’s international
affiliates. Loans, credit cards, retail and business
deposits, and other business and personal banking
services and products are offered by M&T Bank,
member FDIC. Investing involves risks and you may
incur a profit or a loss. There is no assurance that
any strategy will be successful. ©2019 Wilmington
Trust Corporation and its affiliates
91

Ireland-China Business Association
Cork
Cultivates China
Cork County Council has made considerable effort to establish strong relations with
China. In 2017, it established a Partnership Agreement with Jiangsu and last year
it led a successful trade mission to the region.
Cork County Council first established
links with Jiangsu in 2013 when then
Mayor of the County of Cork, Declan
Hurley, first visited Nanjing, the capital
of Jiangsu.
Jiangsu is a coastal province and one of
the 34 provincial-level administrative
units in China. With a population of
80 million, Jiangsu is home to many
of the world’s leading exporters of
electronic equipment, chemicals and
textiles. Cork County Council was keen
to establish formal links with Jiangsu
and to promote cooperation in the areas
of education, economic development,
tourism and culture.
Developing a relationship with Jiangsu
is part of a South West Ireland Strategy,
which sees Cork City Council building
on a long-standing relationship with
Shanghai and Kerry County Council
developing a relationship with Zhejiang
Province, which is South of Jiangsu
and Shanghai. Shanghai, Jiangsu and
Zhejiang are the three most economically
developed parts of China.
There are three levels in the process
of establishing and formalising a
relationship with a province, region, city
or district in China. Level one is a Letter
of Intent, level two is a Memorandum
of Understanding and level three is a
Friendship Agreement.
Since 2013, Cork County has signed
a Friendship Agreement with both
Jiangsu and Xuzhou, the second city in
Jiangsu, which has a population of 10
million people. Both relationships seek
to promote mutual understanding and
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Crowley Millar Solicitors are proud to be providing value and support to our
domestic and international clients for over 30 years. We have a proven record of
experience and expertise in advising both Irish clients doing business in China
and Chinese clients investing in Ireland.
克 劳 利 米 勒 律 师 事 务 所 为 30 年 来 能 够 竭 诚 为 国 内 外 客 户 提 供 法 律 支 持 与 超 值 服 务 感
到 荣 幸 与 自 豪 。 我 们 有 丰 富 的 经 验 和 专 业 知 识 为 在 中 国 开 展 业 务 的 爱 尔 兰 客 户 以 及 在
爱 尔 兰 投 资 的 中 国 客 户 提 供 法 律 咨 询 与 建 议 。
Crowley Millar Solicitors
2-3 Exchange Place,
George’s Dock, IFSC,
Dublin 1, D01 AE27, Ireland.
Tel: +353-1-676 1100
Fax: +353-1-676 1630
Email: law@crowleymillar.com
@CrowleyMillar
Crowley Millar Solicitors
Please visit our website at
www.crowleymillar.com

Ireland-China Business Association
cooperation based on common interests
in relation to economic development,
science, technology, education, tourism,
culture, heritage, health and sport.
As with all relationships, forging a
meaningful connection with Jiangsu and
Xuzhou takes commitment, time and
effort resulting in a significant number of
exchanges with both Jiangsu and Xuzhou
since the initial meeting.
Throughout the year regular contacts
are made between the Council, Jiangsu
and Xuzhou with a variety of initiatives
implemented. However, personal
engagement is very important and
Cork County Council hosts a number of
delegations who visit the Council seeking
opportunities across areas of common
interest. In turn, the Mayor of the County
of Cork and the Chief Executive lead a
small delegation on a similar mission to
Jiangsu and Xuzhou each autumn.
A variety of initiatives have been
implemented by Cork County Council
to promote mutual understanding and
cooperation based on common interests.
The Cork China Business Forum 2016 was
a conference to provide business leaders
from Xuzhou with an insight to the Cork
economy, the sectors that are operating
here and how well they are performing.
Cobh and Harbour Chamber organised
the first Irish China Ready Programme
for its members and the business and
tourism enterprises in Cobh in 2017.
China Ready is a programme aimed at
educating Irish tourism enterprises
on how to welcome, understand and
successfully engage with Chinese visitors
and business people and to make them
aware of the opportunities available from
the Chinese tourist market.
Launched in 2017; the Nanjing Shamrock
Cup is an annual English language
competition for middle school (Junior
Cert) children sponsored by Cork County
Council with the assistance of the Irish
Consulate in Shanghai.
Teams of three students from each of
the competing Nanjing middle schools
make a 10 minute presentation on one of
a number of pre-selected topics about
Cork or Ireland which is followed by 5
minutes of questions from the judges.
Whilst everyone gets an award for
competing in the event; the winning
team and their teacher are awarded a
weeklong holiday in Cork and Dublin.
The Shamrock Cup English Language
Competition has increased awareness
about Cork and Ireland while also
creating a positive image of Irish culture
and heritage amongst the students and
will ultimately help to foster partnerships
between schools in Nanjing and Cork.
During their annual visit to Jiangsu, the
County Mayor visits the winning school
creating many junior ambassadors for
Ireland and for Cork.
The Lonely Planet confirmed that
“Everything good about Ireland can
be found in Cork. Surrounding the
country’s second city, a thriving
metropolis made glorious by location and
its devotion to the finer things of life, is
a lush landscape dotted with interesting
and colourful villages that offer a variety
of attractions to the visitor.”
Under Fam (or familiarisation) Visit
2016, Cork County Council organised a
familiarisation trip for journalists and
travel agents to increase their knowledge
of the attractions, natural beauty and
opportunities on offer in Cork and to
help exploit new possibilities for Chinese
companies to promote and sell products
with a Cork theme.
To raise local awareness of Cork County
Council’s relationship with Jiangsu; the
Cork public were invited to nominate one
or more books, on any topic, which they
consider best represents County Cork.
Each autumn, when the Mayor visits
Jiangsu, a selection of the nominated
books are presented to a public or
academic library in Jiangsu in order to
promote interest in Cork’s rich culture
and heritage and create an understanding
of what makes Cork such a great place to
live, study, work and visit.
Cork County Council and Creative
Ireland supported the participation of
ten representatives from the West Cork
Craft and Design Guild in the China Craft
Week in Hangzhou in November 2018
and will do so again in Nanjing this year.
This provides a superb opportunity to
facilitate cultural exchange.
Much has been achieved in fostering
a good and trusting relationship
between both authorities. Cork County
Council’s Friendship Agreement with
Jiangsu contains a number of objectives.
Realising these objectives and in the
process, deepening relationships, while
seeking further opportunities to enhance
economic ties will benefit both regions.
Both regions have something to offer
the other but in the event of BREXIT,
Ireland’s position as the only English
speaking country in the EU with
access to markets of 508 million people
offers a unique opportunity to Jiangsu.
Conversely, China’s growing middle class
offers a potential market for many of
Ireland’s own exports.
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Ireland-China Business Association
Sligo Life
Sligo – a great place to live, invest, visit
Sligo is emerging as a world class location
in which to live, invest and visit with
a growing trend of people and families
relocating to the northwest and away
from the congested greater Dublin region.
And why not! Renowned for its’ natural
beauty, it’s the location of choice for those
seeking quality jobs and a good worklife
balance. Everyone is catered for with
good quality schools – including two
Third Level Institutions – strong musical
tradition, excellent sporting, cultural
and drama outlets and all on the Wild
Atlantic Way populated as it is with scenic
walks, renowned golf links, mountain
bike centre (under construction), golden
beaches and great surfing.
Even more appealing is that it’s all
accessible with none of the congestion or
long commutes experienced elsewhere.
Growth in professionals relocating to
the region is one measure of success. A
more concrete measurement however
is the announcement of 1600 jobs in
the last year in companies such as ASG,
GW Plastics, Overstock, Live Tiles,
Phibro Animal Health, E3 Retail, Eir,
and Abtran. Such a range of high-tech
companies add to already world-class
foreign and indigenous companies
including Abbott, Abbvie, B Braun,
Aurivo, Lotus Works and SL Controls.
Sligo has become a key destination for
enterprise investment and of the 3,100
active enterprises in Sligo, 93% are in the
micro-enterprise sector.
Partnership has been a key ingredient
for the development of Sligo as the
growth centre of the northwest, with
all agencies working to a consistent
agenda. Through this partnership
approach, Sligo is working to position
itself as an internationally recognised
smart city destination. Technology will
be embedded into the fabric of Sligo life
in a manner that will be conducive to
enhancing the quality of life of citizens
and encouraging further business
development, including those deploying
the latest industry 4 type technologies.
The vision is to become the economic
driver of the Northwest with Sligo as the
vibrant urban centre, a Smart City at the
cutting edge of technology, where people
live and work in a high quality public
realm with free public Wi-Fi, sample the
many cultural activities, festivals and
rich musical traditions that the region
has to offer, while enjoying the activities
of the great outdoors in a stunning
natural setting.
With telecoms and other smart
infrastructure now at an advanced level
of deployment, the Smart City agenda
is being advanced by Sligo County
Council working in collaboration with
Sligo Economic Forum, comprising
representatives of key public and private
sector organisations. In this regard,
innovative programmes aimed at
upskilling businesses are being delivered
and a pilot project aimed at introducing
second level students to the world of
industry 4, digitalisation and the future
of work has been successfully concluded.
Modern 1 Gigabyte collaborative workspace
is available in the centre of Sligo under a
unique partnership model involving IDA
Ireland, the Institute of Technology, Sligo
and Sligo County Council.
Infrastructure too is benefiting from a
€225m investment with work underway
on a new Eastern link bridge, opening
up the entire Eastern side of the City for
development. It will also make substantial
development land available in and close
to the core of the City that is ripe for
development. On the western side, a new
distributor road is under construction
creating access to an 85 acre IDA site
being developed for advanced industrial
units. Separately, the National Route N4
is presently benefiting from a €100m
upgrade thus dealing with some of the
regions infrastructural deficiencies.
In the core of the City, major and
significant public realm projects are in
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Ireland-China Business Association
progress that will enhance both the retail
and cultural centres of Sligo. They include
the O’Connell St. Enhancement Scheme
and the creation of a Cultural Plaza in
what is now Stephen St. Car Park. Both
will have free public Wi-Fi available.
Tourism too is benefiting with major
projects advancing that will add
significantly to Sligo’s tourism offering.
They include a Surf Centre of Excellence
in Strandhill making it the surfing capital
of the northwest and the only Centre of
Excellence in the country, a Mountain
Bike Centre in Coolaney, one of only four,
and a Yeats Trail on the outskirts of Sligo.
Sligo is renowned for its natural beauty,
as epitomised in the poetry of the Nobel
Laureate, W.B. Yeats, who knew Sligo as
The Land of Heart’s Desire and also the
paintings of his brother, Jack B. Yeats,
who publicly acknowledged in his later
years that he had never created a painting
which did not have in it “at least a thought
of Sligo”. Some of his paintings hang in
Sligo’s Model Niland Gallery, a fine centre
of art and classical pursuits.
The mix of spectacular scenery in
Sligo encompasses beaches, coastline,
mountains, hills, valleys, rivers
and lakes. Many of these areas have
tastefully-developed walkways where
one can take in the view or simply enjoy
the forest. What nature has provided
in the landscape is complimented by
a strong musical scene ranging from
accomplished traditional Irish music
players to a vibrant arts, culture, heritage
and creative scene.
A further addition to Sligo’s enterprise
and tourism offering is Hazelwood
Demense, an eighteenth-century
building now being restored by its
owners who are also adding a distillery
producing Athrú branded whiskey for
connoisseurs. The renovated home
will compliment other Stately homes
such as Lissadell House, Temple House,
Coopershill and Markree Castle.
Sligo – the future
Sligo is developing. Job announcements
and major investment has been
announced and is underway. The
collaborative and partnership approach
of key agencies will continue and Sligo
will continue to progress its overall
vision of: “an enterprising, inclusive and
environmentally sustainable place which
values and celebrates its unique landscape
and rich culture and heritage and where
the wellbeing of future generations is
central to everything we do”.
SLIGO AT A GLANCE:
• Population 65,000, 250,000 within a
60km catchment
• Designated growth centre and
regional capital
• €225m Government investment in
infrastructure
• 1,600 recent job announcements
• Capacity in Water Services
infrastructure to cater for growth
• Part of a European Entrepreneurial
Region
• Large greenfield industrial site under
development
• Two excellent third level institutions
• Highly educated and young labour force
• World-class foreign and indigenous
companies
• Renowned tool-making and
engineering centre
• Sligo being positioned as a Smart City
location
• Advanced co-innovation workspaces
• Short work and leisure commutes
• Strong existing international linkages
including London, Rhode Island and
Pennsylvania
• Lower cost base than the East Coast
of Ireland
• A can-do ethos involving close
collaboration among key players
• Significant road network upgrades
• Good transport links including regular
bus and train services, small regional
airport and an international airport on
our doorstep
• Scenic County with mountains, lakes,
rivers and a 110-mile coastline on the
Wild Atlantic Way
• Many outdoor pursuits – surfing,
hillwalking, cycling, field sports,
beaches, lakes and rivers, leisurely
and adventure activities
• Fine dining, theatre, cinema, pubs and
music venues, indoor activity centres
• World-renowned archaeology
• Culture, heritage and literature
including the poetry and plays of
nobel laureate W. B. Yeats
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Ireland-China Business Association
MARY IMMACULATE COLLEGE
Mary Immaculate College (MIC), founded in 1898, is Ireland’s leading university-level College
of Education and Humanities. The College has a growing and diverse community of almost
5,000 students, who are enrolled in undergraduate programmes in Education, Liberal Arts,
Contemporary and Applied Theatre Studies and Early Childhood Care and Education, as well
as a range of postgraduate programmes at Diploma, MA and PhD levels. Additional subjects
available to our international students include Irish Heritage Studies, Beginners Irish Language,
English as a Foreign Language and English for Academic Purposes.
MIC has a vibrant international community, collaborating with more than 50 partner universities
& colleges in Europe, North America and Australia, and hosting over 500 international
students annually. The College has been nominated for two Irish Education Awards in 2019,
including “Best International College Achievement”. MIC has also been nominated for “Best
International Collaboration Project” for successfully hosting 300 students from St. John’s
University, New York and their “Discover The World: Europe” programme.
MIC is recognized and appreciated for its excellence in teaching, learning and research and
is renowned world-wide for top-quality education provision, educating 40% of Ireland’s
elementary school teachers. The highly research-active faculty, 82% of whom have PhDs,
pro-actively engage in developing international best practice. The College plays a pivotal
role in third-level education in a diverse and inclusive Ireland. It provides an ethos and an
environment where students have both the freedom and the opportunity to achieve their full
potential. The programmes of study at MIC are among the most highly sought-after in the
country, but the College is equally proud of its reputation as a caring institution, where there is
genuine concern for the individual, in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.
All qualifications from MIC are fully recognised internationally, through the Irish National
Framework of Qualifications and the European Credit Transfer System. MIC graduates are
found at the top level of many sectors nationally and internationally, most notably education,
psychology, public policy development and media and communications.
CONVENIENTLY LOCATED IN LIMERICK CITY, WITH A SAFE,
ACCESSIBLE & FRIENDLY CAMPUS
MIC’s main campus is conveniently located in a safe, leafy suburb just ten minutes’ walk from
Limerick city centre. Limerick, a picturesque riverside city with clean, fresh air, was originally
founded in the 10th century as a Viking fortress. It is located in Ireland’s Midwest region and
is the third largest city in the country, with a population of around 162,000. With half the city’s
population under 30 years of age and three institutions of higher education, there is a vibrant
student culture in the city.
Limerick also has its own airport, Shannon International Airport and this is just 20 minutes
from MIC and close to all the most beautiful scenery and tourist destinations in the Shannon
region, like the Cliffs of Moher and Bunratty Castle. The city offers a complete experience, from
its stunning landscapes to its buzzing city and it consistently performs brilliantly in various
European rankings. It is ranked 1st by the Financial Times for “European City of the Future”,
based on its population category. While Silicon Republic has named it one of the most exciting
start-up cities and hubs in Europe, labelling it “a tech city and a beacon for digital ambitions”.
ACCOMMODATION AT MIC
Superb modern facilities can be found all over the College. Students will find comfortable
and welcoming low-cost accommodation very close to MIC, with various options, including
on-campus, self-catering accommodation. Off-campus, self-catering accommodation is also
available at privately run facilities nearby and students may also rent private accommodation
in the neighbourhoods around MIC. Being a city campus, no city neighbourhood is outside
walking distance! The International Office is happy to assist students in finding suitable
accommodation near to the campus.
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UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMMES
Mary Immaculate College offers the following
undergraduate programmes to international students:
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN LIBERAL ARTS (BA)
The subjects available in the Liberal Arts (BA)
programme are:
• Mathematics
• Media & Communication Studies
• Music
• Drama & Theatre Studies
• Philosophy
• Psychology
• English
• Geography
• History
• Theology & Religious Studies
• Irish Language and Cultural Studies
• German Studies (beginners level available)
• French Studies (beginners level available)
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN CONTEMPORARY & APPLIED
THEATRE STUDIES
POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMMES
Ireland-China Business Association
Mary Immaculate College offers postgraduate programmes
in Liberal Arts (Humanities) and Education. These include
programmes of research as well as taught programmes.
Research programmes may be initiated by agreement with
a supervisor at MIC. Taught programmes are listed below:
• Master of Education (M Ed)
• Master of Arts (MA)
• MA/PhD in Applied Linguistics
• MA in Media Studies
• MA in History
• MA in Modern English Literature
• MA in German Language and Culture in Europe
• MA/PhD in International Development Practice
• Structured PhD in Contemporary Irish Studies
A range of Postgraduate Programmes are also offered
in our Faculty of Education including STEM Education,
Educational Psychology, Education Leadership &
Management, Adult & Further Education and many more.
For more information on courses offered, please visit
www.mic.ul.ie/intlexchange
or email: international@mic.ul.ie
The BA degree programme in Contemporary & Applied
Theatre Studies examines drama and theatre across
a range of practical applications and non-traditional
settings, including, but not defined by, stage
performance and the study of literary texts.
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE
& EDUCATION (BA ECCE)
The BA degree programme in Early Childhood Care
and Education is designed to provide an exciting and
challenging programme for those interested in working
with young children in a range of educational settings.
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN EDUCATION, BUSINESS
STUDIES & ACCOUNTING
This is a four-year degree programme in Business and
Accounting with a concurrent teacher education degree.
Graduates are qualified to teach Business Studies
and Accounting. They are trained in the most current
methodologies and cutting-edge technologies available
to enhance their teaching of these subjects at high
school level.
BACHELOR OF EDUCATION
International students can link into this programme
if they are studying to become elementary school
teachers at another university.
Mary Immaculate College,
International Office, South Circular Road,
Limerick, Ireland
Tel: +353 61 774787
Email: international@mic.ul.ie
www.mic.ul.ie/intlexchange
www.mic.ie
www.mic.ie
99

28,500+
Students
TU DUBLIN -
A NEW UNIVERSITY FOR
A CHANGING IRELAND
TU Dublin, Ireland’s first Technological University, is where career-focused students,
dedicated staff and academic excellence in the arts, sciences, business, engineering
and technology converge. Our 28,500 students learn in a practice-based environment,
on our campuses in Dublin City, Tallaght and Blanchardstown. Informed by the latest
research and enabled by technological advances, we offer an inclusive learning
experience with pathways to graduation from Apprenticeship to PhD.
TU Dublin hosts a thriving research community engaged in applying innovation and
technology to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. We are committed to
collaborating with our national and international academic partners and our many
networks in industry and civic society to create new learning experiences and develop
impactful research.
Building on the rich heritage of its founding organisations - DIT, IT Blanchardstown
and IT Tallaght – this is an exciting new milestone in Irish Higher Education. TU Dublin
will create educational opportunities for students at all stages. Our students will be
the leaders of tomorrow - socially responsible, open-minded global thinkers who are
ambitious to change the world for the better. As graduates of TU Dublin, they will be
enterprising and daring in all their endeavours, ready to play their part in transforming
Ireland’s future.
Infinite Possibilities
3,350+
International
Students
150+
Sports &
Student
Societies
1,000+
Research
Community
3
Incubation
Centres

Ireland-China Business Association
TU Dublin – A New University for a
Changing World
On January 1st 2019, Dublin Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology
Blanchardstown and Institute of Technology Tallaght became Ireland’s first
Technological University - TU Dublin. With 28,500 students TU Dublin will be the place
where the arts, business, science, engineering and technology converge.
The new University, which will be one
of the largest third-level educators in
Ireland, will create an inclusive and open
learning experience offering pathways
to graduation, from foundation to
undergraduate to PhD, to students from
all over the world.
TU Dublin will be developed on campuses
spanning the three largest centres of
population in the Greater Dublin Region –
Dublin City, Blanchardstown and Tallaght.
The new state of the art Grangegorman
campus on a 73 acre site in the heart
of Dublin City is being developed as a
location that encourages and supports
knowledge advancement, sustainable
development and inclusive education.
What will the student experience
at TU Dublin be like?
The emphasis of the TU Dublin student
experience is on practice, with a range
of opportunities in the curriculum
applying theory to real-world challenges
through problem-based learning,
active citizenship, work-placement
opportunities, project work, active
learning, community based learning,
research, and engagement with
contemporary practitioners.
University is not just about academic
learning, and with a wide range of
societies and sports clubs, TU Dublin
students will have plenty of opportunities
to enjoy a vibrant campus life.
Our dedicated international office staff
ensure that International students are
supported throughout their studies to
ensure they embrace university life in
Dublin. With small class sizes, students
enjoy a close working relationship
with fellow students and academic
supervisors.
Offering over 200 programmes to
students from more than 85 countries,
across disciplines including Applied
Arts, Humanities, Built Environment,
Engineering, Business, Science,
Tourism, Food and Sports, TU Dublin
offers a diverse range of specialist
programmes such as Optometry,
Human Nutrition, Transport & Logistics,
Horticulture, Environmental Health and
Tourism Marketing.
Students can gain entry from Foundation
level to PhD. We welcome applications
from students at any stage of their
studies as our internationally recognised
qualifications and courses allow flexible
entry throughout our 3 and 4 year degree
programmes.
Research Programmes at TU Dublin
Our research activities are strongly
focussed on problem-solving, social
and technological development and
on innovation that advance human
knowledge and that make real impact on
society and the economy.
There are numerous postgraduate
research opportunities available across
TU Dublin. Research students not only
develop expertise in their area but
numerous transferable skills which
are highly sought after. International
applicants may apply for the University
Scholarship programme.
101

SEABRIDGE
SEABRIDGE® represents COSCO Shipping Line,
the world’s largest shipping group, on the Island
of Ireland with SEABRIDGE® offices and port
facilities in Dublin, Cork and Belfast. SEABRIDGE®
is connecting Irish industry with China and beyond
with services extending throughout Asia, the Indian
sub-continent, Middle East and Intra-Europe. Our
goal is to provide a seamless flow of cargo for Irish
exporters and importers to allow our customers
concentrate on their core activities.
COSCO Shipping Line is the Chinese national shipping
line and has the vision and resources to continuously
invest in modern vessels, logistics hubs, port facilities
in China and overseas in its commitment to provide
an unrivalled shipping service between Asia and the
rest of the world. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
will further enhance connectivity for Irish exporters
trading with the Far East.
SEABRIDGE® services extend beyond container
shipping. At SEABRIDGE® we operate a full portfolio
of freight and logistics services including worldwide
air-cargo as a registered IATA agent, road-freight,
short-sea, bulk tanker, rail-freight, warehousing
and distribution. SEABRIDGE® professionals have a
wealth of knowledge which extends to documentation,
customs clearance and brokerage providing advice
and guidance to our customers. SEABRIDGE® is also
AEO (Authorised Economic Operator) accredited.
The expertise and commitment of SEABRIDGE®
personnel coupled with the strength of the service
offering we provide allows SEABRIDGE® to be an
invaluable partner for our customers.
www.seabridge.ie

Ireland-China Business Association
Kuehne + Nagel
Focus On Future Trade
National Seafreight Director for Kuehne + Nagel Ireland, Donal O’Connor,
talks to Ireland-China Business Magazine about the trends in logistics
for trade between Ireland and China this year and beyond.
What are the main industries you see
importing from China to Ireland and
exporting to China from Ireland?
For many years, the main inbound flows
of goods from Asia have been fast moving
consumer goods such as household
goods, toys, and packaging. We have
also seen an increase in furniture, DIY
products and electrical goods. If you take
the time to look around your home or
office you will spot numerous items that
originate in Asia, and in particular China.
For goods moving out to China from
Ireland, the key sectors are Agri-food
products such as milk powder, dairy
produce and various meat products.
The Chinese market really values quality
produce so the excellent quality of
Irish sourced dairy products and meat
products are in high demand by the
growing Chinese market. Alongside
these we have seen an uptake in
shipments from our customers in the
medical device and pharmaceutical
sectors shipping into China.
More recently we have started moving
full container loads (FCL) via rail on
our Eurasia Express Rail solution. The
product moves directly from Ireland to
mainland Europe and from there via rail
through Europe and finally into China.
Rail is a faster option when comparing to
seafreight and much more cost effective
than airfreight so it’s nice to give a third
option for customers.
What are the products that have seen
the largest increase over the last year
and why? What drives the demand for
such products?
As the economic recovery has cemented
we have seen a greater demand for
furniture, DIY products and home
improvement products.
What do you predict to be the growing
or upcoming trends in trade between
Ireland and China over the coming years?
In the past year there has been a
reduction in waste product due to
a regulation change in China on the
standard of recycled waste material
China will accept. China is very focused
on improving their environmental record
so this change in regulation has made a
significant impact on the flows of such
products to China throughout last year
and this is not expected to change. This
year we have seen an increase in demand
for high quality Irish-made products
of all categories, the key driver is the
growing Chinese middleclass demand
for such products. I would expect this
demand to continue to grow significantly
in the years ahead.
How will BREXIT affect global logistics?
BREXIT from China will affect mainly
UK-owned retailers who have a
presence in Ireland. These retailers have
traditionally shipped their product
from China into the UK and from there
distributed to Ireland overnight. We have
already seen a shift to direct FCL from
China into Ireland and this shift is driving
demand for warehousing and logistics
solutions to meet these customers’
distribution needs in Ireland.
Alongside FCL, there are also options
to move smaller quantities from China
directly into Ireland via LCL (Less
Than Container Loads) and/or buyer
console options. *Buyer Console Options
consolidate various suppliers together in
China and ship the goods together to the
destination to combine costs.*
We have already developed a number of
solutions for our customers during the
past 12 months enabling our customers
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Ireland-China Business Association
to avoid the UK in preparation for Brexit
and at the same time meet their service
requirements.
What are the hot topics of concern for
your customers? What are customers
most interested in hearing about?
Our customers by in large are focused
on reliability and accurate “real-time”
information on the whereabouts of their
shipment. Proactive alerting of any
potential delays is of utmost importance
so that they can manage their resources
and business. Proactive alerting also
means that they can manage their
customer expectations.
Kuehne + Nagel are continuing to
invest in technology in this space. We
recently developed a digital platform
called ‘SeaExplorer’ that provides our
customers with detailed visibility of
global seafreight services. SeaExplorer
shows the routing options and transit
times that are available from/to most of
the world’s ports; it also provides key
service information covering service
reliability and CO2 emission rating of
each service. This information allows our
customers to make informed, fact based
decisions to ensure they select the right
service to meet their business needs.
Finally, we have just launched our KN
Pledge seafreight product the first and
only full container service solution*
which offers our customers a number
of unique premium features, including
guaranteed lead time for all delivery
combinations, a 100% money back
guarantee, extended cargo liability,
instant pricing and carbon neutrality.
*For standard containers only (Reefers and
special equipment excluded).
For further details log onto
www.kuehne-nagel.ie
or contact Donal O’Connor, National
Seafreight Director, Kuehne + Nagel Ireland;
Email: Ireland.sales@kuehne-nagel.com
Tel: 01 8239777
“We have already
developed a number
of solutions for
our customers
during the past 12
months enabling our
customers to avoid
the UK in preparation
for Brexit and
at the same time
meet their service
requirements.”
National Seafreight Director,
Kuehne + Nagel Ireland, Donal
O’Connor on Brexit preparations
105

www.hainanairlines.com

Ireland-China Business Association
Go Global from
Dublin Airport Central
Dublin Airport Central, Ireland’s most exciting commercial office development, is poised to
benefit from Ireland’s increasing connectivity to Asia’s largest economy.
Following recent direct flights being
launched to Beijing and Hong Kong – the
aerotropolis development is making a
push to attract Asian companies to the
city ranked as Number 1 in the World for
Foreign Direct Investment.
Dublin Airport is one of Europe’s fastest
growing major airports, with over 740
flights a day to Asia, Europe, Africa
and North America. It boasts Europe’s
busiest air route from Dublin to London
and more flights to provincial UK
than London Heathrow. In addition to
European connectivity, Dublin Airport
is Europe’s only capital city to provide
passengers with US Border Preclearance,
allowing passengers to arrive in one of
its 24 North American destinations as
domestic flyers – leading to a seamless
transition from aircraft to baggage
reclaim and onwards to a taxi.
In a concept similar to the airport city
developments in Shanghai, Songdo
International Business District in Seoul
or Dubai’s aerotropolis, Dublin Airport
Central is a new asset class for the Irish
real estate market. The offices, located
just 100m from the terminal building at
Dublin Airport, are ideal for a European
head office for any company with
international ambitions. Aerotropolis
developments are the future of
commerce in an increasingly globalised
era, when being effortlessly connected
to Hong Kong and New York is equally
as important as being linked to your
home office neighbourhood. Prominent
consultant John Kasarda even goes as
far as to say that today’s airport office
developments are tomorrow’s central
business districts.
Ireland prides itself on delivering a
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Ireland-China Business Association
Ireland is the
natural home for
Chinese companies
who want to establish
a presence in Europe,
and Dublin Airport
Central is ideally
positioned to take
advantage of those
business who want to
start a European head
office in the country.
world class safe and friendly business
environment which appeals so much to
tomorrow’s top companies. Already home
to many major established tech giants with
EU HQs including the likes of Facebook,
Twitter, Google, Linkedin, Ebay, Docusign,
Indeed, Amazon, Salesforce (and so on)
Ireland also boasts an impressive financial
services sector (located 15 mins from
Dublin Airport Central via the port tunnel)
which houses over 55% of all the world’s
aircraft leasing companies.
Alongside these major tech and aviation
sector companies multinational goliaths
such as Bank of America and JP Morgan,
Ireland is pushing to attract China’s
future business giants. In addition to
being a European hub for the world’s
financial, tech and insurance sectors,
Ireland’s favourable corporate tax rates
and incredibly young, highly flexible and
exceedingly well educated population
make it an ideal place to do business. As
the EU’s only remaining English speaking
country, Ireland is already reaping the
benefits from multinational companies’
relocations from London, with thousands
of jobs already created from Brexit in the
last few years alone.
Dublin Airport Central is ideally located
to take advantage of this incoming
wave of FDI into Ireland. As Ireland’s
best connected business destination,
seamless national connectivity blends
effortlessly with the airport’s almost
200 international destinations. Staff can
walk from their office to the departure
gates in less than 5 minutes to catch
a waiting plane, or take advantage of
Ireland’s busiest bus station to connect
to Ireland’s other cities. Kellogg’s, the
US multinational which recently signed a
deal to lease almost 4000sqm at the new
offices, cited this local and international
connectivity as allowing them to execute
their growth strategy ‘across Europe’.
Companies that locate at the
development can avail of a wide array
of benefits on both a corporate level,
and for individual employees. Corporate
benefits for clients include fast track
security passes, access to a luxury lounge
and private terminal at the airport,
exclusive use of meeting spaces designed
by world renowned architects, and
heavily discounted advertising within
the terminal buildings, allowing their
company to reach a captive audience of
over 31 million people.
Employees working at Dublin Airport
Central also benefit from being located
at Ireland’s next generation business
destination. An integrated employee
wellness programme is being developed,
allowing staff to take advantage of spiritual,
financial and physical wellness offerings.
Employee’s leisure time is also provided for
with an on-site gym and swimming pool,
exercise complex and various best in class
food offerings – all of which provide staff
with generous discounts.
A further benefit to employees of
working at the offices is the ease in
which they can escape Dublin’s housing
difficulties. With ample discounted travel
available from all over Ireland to the
airport, staff can live in seaside resorts,
luxury apartments or in spacious country
houses within an easy commute of their
office – and all for a considerably less
than their peers working in Dublin’s
central business district.
Ireland is the natural home for Chinese
companies who want to establish a
presence in Europe, and Dublin Airport
Central is ideally positioned to take
advantage of those business who want
to start a European head office in the
country. With Dublin’s increasing
prominence as one of the world’s major
cities combining with the ever-greater
popularity of aerotropolis developments,
Dublin Airport Central is uniquely
poised to attract ambitious international
companies in the years ahead.
For more information on Dublin Airport
Central please email
Paul Byrne @ paulw.byrne@daa.ie
108

Ireland-China Business Association
Hazelwood Demesne
Situated on a peninsula jutting onto the scenic
Lough Gill on the banks of the Garavogue river,
Hazelwood House, an impressive Palladian style
mansion and one of Sligo’s most neglected
treasures, is being restored to its former glory.
Complementing other Stately Homes such as
Lissadell, Temple House, Markree Castle and
Coopershill, its’ unique selling point is its’ new
addition, Lough Gill Distillery, and in particular
its’ branded Athrú range of whiskey rooted in the
mythology of Sligo and limited to 6,600 bottles.
Each of the whiskey expressions will take as its
theme one of the many stories, myths, secrets &
legends that surround Hazelwood.
Find out more at www.athru.com
Mythology
Sligo is home to the stories of Fionn & the
Fianna, Diarmuid & Grainne, Maeve Queen of
Connacht, the Wells of St. Patrick, the Lake of
Tears, the Wail of the Banshee and Tír na nÓg.
Nestled in the shadow of Cairns Hill, which,
together with Carrowmore, forms part of one
of the greatest megalithic complexes of ancient
Ireland. It has spiritual significance, surrounded
as it is by seven cairn topped mountains including
Knocknarea, where Queen Maeve, the warrior
queen, is reputedly buried, standing facing her
enemies, spear in hand. W.B. Yeats, the first
Irish person to be awarded the Nobel Prize for
Literature, was fascinated by Irish mythology. No
place along the shores of Lough Gill, was more
magical to him than Hazelwood, inspiring some
of his most evocative poetry. In 1893 he wrote “I
went out to the Hazelwood, because a fire was in
my head, and cut and peeled a hazel wand, and
hooked a berry to a thread”.
Vision
Hazelwood’s vision is to become a major tourist
attraction with plans being advanced to add retail
outlets, restaurants, Museums/Galleries and
tours. Lough Gill Distillery’s vision for its’ part
is to create the most talked Irish whiskey brand
in a unique location, immersed in the history,
mythology and legends from the west of Ireland.
An ultra-premium collection of the finest
whiskey finished in a superb range of casks. Made
from 100% malted barley, the whiskey is triple
distilled single malt whiskey. The water is filtered
down through the layers of rock from Benbulben
and surrounding area, granting a flavour unique
to the west coast of Ireland. Matured and
finished onsite in the finest bourbon casks.
www.sligococo.ie
109

Ireland-China Business Association
Property
Advisory Services
Chinese investors are increasingly active in the Irish
property market and many are availing of the services of
BV Commercial Real Estate Advisors, a leading estate agents
specialising in sales, lettings, valuation, and management
of commercial property. Managing Director Alan Loughrey
talks about the company’s proud track record in
maximising value for its broad client base.
Our expertise and exceptional on-theground
market knowledge together ensure
that when you choose BV Commercial to
manage your commercial property needs,
you are partnering with market experts
who are dedicated to helping you secure the
best market value for your property.
Since 2008, we have been highly successful
in delivering exceptional results / financial
returns to clients, both private and
corporate, across the residential, industrial,
retail, agricultural, and office sectors.
Our refreshing approach – one which is
based on hard work, customer service, and
an intuitive knowledge of the market – is
one which we believe makes us different
and is central to our continued growth.
BV Commercial Real Estate Advisors is a
leading estate agency firm specialising in
commercial property sales & lettings, as
well as property management.
Our expertise in the area of commercial
property on a national level is quite
simply second to none.
The reason is we say that is simply that
we are fortunate to deal with a very
diverse client base, ranging from the
small private investors right through to
large international financial institutions.
Because, regardless of size of the client
or the project value, our goal is always to
deliver great results that will meet and
exceed your expectations every time.
So if you’re looking for a commercial
property agent you can trust to sell,
value, let, or manage your property on
your behalf, talk to us today and let’s
get started!
Galway unit 20 Glenrock Business Park,
Ballybane, Galway 091 745240
Dublin Office, Fitzwilliam Hall, Fitzwilliam
Place, Dublin 2. 01 9695090 www.bv.ie
ALAN LOUGHREY,
Managing Director,
BV Commercial Real Estate
Alan holds an Honours Degree in
Business Studies (GMIT), a Post-
Graduate Diploma in Marketing (MII), an
Executive Diploma in Digital Marketing
(also MII) and the CIPS Certified
International Property Specialist
accreditation. He first joined Business
Vision in 2002 and acquired the
business just three years later. In 2008,
he added a separate commercial real
estate business, BV Commercial.
Alan has vast experience of dealing with
investors from the Asia-China market;
as well as having extensive experience
of negotiating office space for Chinese
companies locating in Ireland, he has
negotiated the sale of businesses
and properties to Chinese investors
including Nursing Homes, Hotels,
Trading Restaurants, Food Companies,
Irish Whiskey Brands/Distillery and
Investment properties.
Finally, Alan is a huge believer in giving
outstanding customer service to every
client, and this approach has resulted
in him negotiating transactions on
behalf of clients, across a wide range of
industry sectors, across the length and
breadth of Ireland.
Contact Alan Loughrey 087 2222025
or email alan@bvcommercial.ie
110

Investment
Property Land Residential
Buying property in Ireland ?
One Property One Estate Agent
BV Commercial
Our Team of Property Advisors can assist you
buying or renting a property in Ireland
n Investment properties with good rental yields
n Office accommodation in City locations
Dublin Office
Fitzwilliam Hall,
Fitzwilliam Place,
Dublin 2
01 9695090
Galway Office
20 Glenrock Business Park,
Galway
091 745240
www.bvcommercial.ie
n Commercial property investments including Nursing Homes,
Hotels, Food sector Businesses and Industrial Factories
n Luxury homes and apartments in prime city locations
Offices in Dublin and Galway Covering the Island of Ireland
PSRA ID:- 003112

Ireland-China Business Association
DHL
Go Green
DHL are continuing their Go Green journey to meet their ambitious
Zero Emissions by 2050 goal writes Ciara Hynes
As part of our Corporate Responsibility
Strategy, Deutsche Post DHL Group is
generating value for business and society
with our GoGreen Program. The future of
logistics is green and DHL are paving the
way with an ambitious vision: we want to
reduce our logistics-related emissions to
zero by 2050. It’s our way of contributing
to the two-degree goal established by
the UN and protecting our planet. A
target this ambitious cannot be achieved
overnight. With four interim goals and
numerous innovative measures in place
across the DHL divisions, we have laid
the groundwork for attaining our target
of zero-emissions logistics by 2050.
Since the start of our GoGreen program,
we have gained extensive knowledge
and expertise in the area of climatefriendly
logistics processes, and we
make sure to pass this knowledge on to
our customers. We offer a suite of DHL
GoGreen Solutions which include both
standardized products and customized
solutions to help customers develop their
own eco-friendly business models and
green supply chains.
As a leader in green logistics, we have
the experience and the expertise to help
our customers reach their own climate
goals. We can’t deny that sustainability
is an important competitive factor.
Customers prefer and actively seek out
environmentally-friendly products.
More and more companies are
committing to climate protection targets
and are requiring suppliers to comply.
Job applicants give priority to companies
strong in corporate responsibility, and
investors insist, more and more, that
companies reduce their environmental
risks and dependence on resources. This
is why we want more than 50% of our
sales to incorporate Green Solutions by
the year 2025, which also helps make our
customers’ supply chains greener.
DHL’s suite of Go Green products is
varied. We offer our customer true
transparency by providing them with
the Carbon Reports related to their
logistics-related emissions. A selection
of our customers avail of Climate Neutral
Products and in these cases we offset
unavoidable logistics-related emissions
through certified climate protection
projects. Our Green Optimization
service enables us to help customers
to identify ways in which they can
reduce emissions, waste and other
environmental impacts. The resulting
optimization measures achieve savings
potential that most companies would not
be able to achieve on their own.
One project that sits at the forefront of
our Go Green initiative is DHL’s goal to
plant one million trees every year until
2025. Trees can absorb a tremendous
amount of carbon emissions and provide
us with cleaner air, and the kind of
environment we’d like to leave behind for
future generations. We are encouraging
all DHL employees to get involved as each
individual can make a small contribution
that collectively has a big impact. The
best way to reach our goal is if everyone
lends a hand! By collaborating with a
recognised tree planting organisation or
making a contribution DHL employees
across the world are contributing to a
cleaner environment.
By the nature of their business,
logistics companies have a multitude
of opportunities to reduce their carbon
footprint. For a global company like
DHL this presents a unique opportunity
to put the innovativeness of our global
workforce to the test! Just last month
the fruits of this labour became a reality
when DHL Express launched its first
regular fully-automated and intelligent
urban drone delivery service in China.
DHL Express collaborated with the
world’s leading intelligent autonomous
aerial vehicle company EHang to create a
strategic partnership that would jointly
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Ireland-China Business Association
launch a fully automated and intelligent
smart drone delivery solution to tackle
the last-mile delivery challenges in the
urban areas of China.
The new customized route, which
has been exclusively created for a
DHL customer, covers a distance of
approximately eight kilometres between
the customer premises and the DHL
service centre in Liaobu, Dongguan,
Guangdong Province. Using the most
advanced Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
(UAV) in EHang’s newly-launched
Falcon series, featuring the highest level
of intelligence, automation, safety and
reliability, the new intelligent drone
delivery solution overcomes the complex
road conditions and traffic congestion
common to urban areas. It reduces oneway
delivery time from 40 minutes to
only eight minutes and can save costs of
up to 80% per delivery, with reduced
energy consumption and carbon footprint
compared with road transportation.
The EHang Falcon smart drone is designed
with multiple redundant systems for
full backup, and smart and secure flight
control modules. Its high-performance
features include vertical take-off and
landing, high accuracy GPS and visual
identification. Additionally it includes
smart flight path planning, fullyautomated
flight and real-time network
connection and scheduling. As a fullyautomated
and intelligent solution, the
drones, which can carry up to 5kg of cargo
per flight, take off and land atop intelligent
cabinets that were specifically developed
for the fully autonomous loading and
offloading of the shipment. The intelligent
cabinets seamlessly connect with
automated processes including sorting,
scanning and storage of express mail, and
will feature high-tech functions such as
facial recognition and ID scanning.
This smart drone delivery solution will
enhance DHL’s delivery capabilities and
create a new customer experience in the
logistics sector, opening up even more
opportunities for sustainable growth and
greater economic contribution. Given
the growing prominence of B2C business
operations and delivery in China,
employing drones in express delivery
services offers an innovative solution
for meeting the increasing demands for
time-sensitive delivery, particularly for
last mile delivery in urban areas.
On a local level DHL Express Ireland are
doing our piece to contribute to the zero
emissions target. In September 2018 we
launched our new environmentallyfriendly
eco-delivery vehicles at our
Dublin city centre base in Pearse Street.
This involved the introduction of one
electric delivery van and four semi-electric
cargo bikes to the DHL Express city centre
operation. With the introduction of these
eco-vehicles the Pearse Street facility
became fully carbon-neutral and two
diesel vans were removed from the streets
of Dublin city. This initiative reduced
CO2 emissions whilst also improving the
energy efficiency level of the station. It is
estimated that the initiative will result in
approximately 3,200 litres less of diesel
being burned annually. At the time,
Bernard McCarthy (MD DHL Express
Ireland) stated that; “This is an important
development for DHL Express in Dublin
City. We have a large customer base in and
around the city and it’s very important
that we service these customers with clean
and sustainable transport solutions.”
The future of our planet depends on the
actions that we take now and at DHL we
are committed to ensuring a cleaner,
safer environment for the generations
coming after us.
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Ireland-China Business Association
Fly Your
Dreams
Award-winning Hainan Airlines is rapidly expanding its international operations and since last
year has launched two direct flights connecting Dublin to both Beijing and Shenzhen.
Hainan Airlines Holding Co., Ltd.
(hereafter referred to as “Hainan
Airlines”) was founded in January,
1993 in Hainan Province, the largest
special economic zone in China. As
one of the fastest developing airlines
in China, Hainan Airlines is committed
to providing passengers with holistic,
seamless and high-quality service.
Since 1993, Hainan Airlines has achieved
25 years of safe operations equivalent to
more than 6.6 million hours of safe flights.
Hainan Airlines’ fleet is composed mainly
of Boeing 737s and 787s as well as Airbus
330s. Also, Hainan Airlines introduced
its first Airbus 350-900 aircraft to the
fleet recently. As of June 30, 2018, Hainan
Airlines and its holding subsidiaries had
over 400 aircraft in operation and 24
bases/branch companies established in
Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Sanya,
Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou,
Changsha, Zhengzhou, Huhhot, Guiyang
and other points.
Hainan Airlines and its holding
subsidiaries’ extensive network of routes
covers China, numerous points in Asia
and extends to Europe, North America
and the South Pacific, operated on
over 1700 domestic and international
routes to nearly 220 cities worldwide.
Its renowned international business
class service features comfortable lieflat
seats, fine cuisine and the latest in
inflight entertainment.
Since 2011, Hainan Airlines, with its
high-quality service standards and
continuous years of service innovation,
has won SKYTRAX World’s 5-Star
Airlines rating for eight consecutive
years. After joining the roster of
SKYTRAX World's Top10 Airlines for the
first time in 2017, Hainan Airlines moved
up the rankings to claim eighth place this
year, becoming the first mainland Chinabased
airline to win the honour for the
second year in a row.
HNA Club
A new HNA Club has also been
complete in terminal 2 of Beijing Capital
International Airport. Designed by Dr.
Liang Jinghua, a renowned Hong Kong
based designer, the lounge is inspired
by Hainan Island’s pristine and tropical
environments and can accommodate up
to 148 passengers.
With a floor area of 726 square meters
the Club features a vast range of facilities
including a lounge area, reading nooks, VIP
space, sleeping zone, private showering
facilities and an entertainment space.
海 南 航 空 控 股 股 份 有 限 公 司 ( 以 下 简 称
海 南 航 空 ) 于 1993 年 1 月 成 立 , 起 步 于 中
国 最 大 的 经 济 特 区 海 南 省 , 致 力 于 为 旅
客 提 供 全 方 位 无 缝 隙 的 航 空 服 务 。
1993 年 至 今 , 海 南 航 空 连 续 安 全 运 营 25
年 , 累 计 安 全 运 行 超 过 660 万 飞 行 小 时 ,
拥 有 波 音 737、787 系 列 和 空 客 330 系 列
为 主 的 年 轻 豪 华 机 队 , 并 于 近 期 引 进 了
空 客 A350-900 宽 体 客 机 。 截 至 2018 年 上
半 年 , 海 南 航 空 及 旗 下 控 股 子 公 司 共 运
营 飞 机 400 余 架 , 在 北 京 、 广 州 、 深 圳 、 三
亚 、 成 都 、 重 庆 、 杭 州 、 长 沙 、 郑 州 、 呼 和 浩
特 、 贵 阳 等 24 个 城 市 建 立 航 空 营 运 基 地 /
分 公 司 , 航 线 网 络 遍 布 中 国 , 覆 盖 亚 洲 ,
辐 射 欧 洲 、 北 美 洲 、 大 洋 洲 , 开 通 了 国 内
外 航 线 1700 余 条 , 通 航 城 市 近 220 个 , 致
力 于 为 旅 客 打 造 安 全 舒 适 的 旅 行 体 验 。
自 2011 年 起 , 海 南 航 空 凭 借 高 品 质 的 服
务 及 持 续 多 年 的 创 新 , 已 连 续 八 年 荣 膺
SKYTRAX“ 世 界 五 星 航 空 公 司 ” 称 号 。 此
外 , 在 2017 年 基 础 上 , 海 南 航 空 再 度 入
围 SKYTRAX“ 全 球 航 空 公 司 TOP10”, 并
上 升 至 第 8 位 , 成 为 中 国 内 地 首 个 入 围 并
蝉 联 该 项 荣 誉 的 航 司 。
“ 相 伴 相 惜 梦 享 飞 行 ”, 海 南 航 空 立 志
成 为 中 华 民 族 的 世 界 级 卓 越 航 空 企 业 和
航 空 品 牌 。“
114

Ireland-China Business Association
Use of the HNA Club and its facilities is
permitted for business class passengers,
Fortune Wings Club platinum card
holders (permitted to bring two
accompanying guests into lounge) and
Alaska Airlines elite members (MVP
GOLD and MVP GOLD 75K).
Dublin to China Direct Flights
Last year Hainan Airlines’ launched
a new direct service from Beijing to
Dublin, the first ever direct route from
Ireland to mainland China - marking a
major milestone for the Ireland-China
economy. This was followed on February
25 th this year with the launch of a twiceweekly,
non-stop service between
Shenzhen in China and Dublin
Situated in Guangdong Province and
separated from Hong Kong by a narrow
river (25 km). Shenzhen ( 深 圳 ; Shēnzhèn)
is one of the most populous cities in China
and lies approximately 100 kilometers
(62 mi) south of China’s third largest
city, Guangzhou. The city is on the list of
UNESCO Creative Cities and holds subprovincial
administrative status, with
powers slightly less than a province.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner
Both the Dublin to Beijing and Dublin
to Shenzhen routes are operated with
a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Passengers
can enjoy its spacious cabin layout,
ergonomically designed seats, extra-large
windows and spacious overhead bins.
With a highly-efficient air-purification
system and adjustable full-spectrum
LED ambient lighting in the cabin, all
passengers can relax in a natural and cozy
atmosphere. In addition, an exclusive
entertainment-on-demand system is
available in all cabins.
Seats in Business class relines to a
horizontal 180 degree, with a seat pitch of
188 cm (74 inches). This allows passengers
to enjoy a fully-flat bed with good privacy.
Each seat is equipped with a large 15-inch
personal entertainment system offering
top-class selections that are rotated on a
monthly basis. Business Class passengers
are provided with home-like bedding
services, including comfortable pajamas,
slippers and a Bvlgari amenity kit. Other
offerings such as Bose noise-reducing
headphones, seasonal Asian and Western
cuisines, are all on board to provide
passengers with 5-Star enjoyments.
In addition, the use of portable electronic
devices on board is also allowed on board.
Hainan Airlines aspires to be a worldclass
airline company and the prominent
airline brand of China and it is certainly
making rapid strides towards that goal.
HAINAN AIRLINES: THE HIGH LIFE
Fortune Wings Club
The Fortune Wings Club is a worldwide
incentive program targeting frequent
flyers traveling on Hainan Airlines,
Grand China Air, Tianjin Airlines, Hong
Kong Airlines, Lucky Air, Capital Airlines,
Fuzhou Airlines, Suparna Airlines and
Guangxi Beibu Gulf Airlines.
If you become a member of the Club, you
can accumulate points by taking flights,
staying at hotels, using credit cards, renting
cars, etc. Then you can redeem your points
for rewards such as flights, upgrades, hotel
accommodations, dining and rental cars for
either yourself or your family and friends.
Optimal seat selection
“Optimal Seat Selection” is available on
selected international routes between
China and Europe, North America,
Russia, Australia and Southeast Asia.
For a modest fee, passengers can
choose from seats with additional
legroom or front seats in the economyclass
cabin. The number of available
seats is limited on each flight and this
product must be purchased in advance.
Individual Business Class Combo
To reap the benefits of transpacific travel
in Business Class, prepay Individual
Business Class Combo for year-long
usage on Hainan Airlines departing from
Europe, the Americas, Russia, and/or
the South Pacific to China. Restrictions:
Minimum of two international roundtrips
in Business Class for specified routes.
Limousine Service
Hainan Airlines provides limousine airport
transfer service to designated passengers
who take business class on HU selfoperated
routes to China. Limousine
service is valid in 11 cities in China:
Beijing, Shanghai, Haikou, Chongqing,
Xi’an, Changsha, Chengdu, Guangzhou,
Hangzhou, Shenzhen and Wenzhou.
HNA Club
Located in Terminal 2 of Beijing Capital
International Airport, Hainan Airlines new
HNA Club was designed by renowned
Hong Kong based designer Dr. Liang
Jinghua and can accommodate up to
148 passengers. The Club features a
vast range of facilities including a lounge
area, reading nooks, VIP space, sleeping
zone, private showering facilities and
an entertainment space. Professionally
prepared gourmet food from around the
world is also provided.
115

Ireland-China Business Association
Travel Planner
Established by Chinese native and Meath resident, Jing Farrelly in 2015, Zatino Limited (LTD)
is the company of choice for Chinese citizen’s intent on discovering all things Irish.
Originally from Wuhan in China, Jing
who previously worked as a nurse and IT
professional was living in County Meath
when she noticed a growth of Chinese
tourists coming to Ireland.
Spotting a gap in the market for a tourism
company specialising in MICE (meetings,
incentives, conferences and exhibitions)
packages for Chinese visitors travelling to
the island of Ireland.
In 2015 she established Zatino LTD. Her
vision is to provide Chinese tourists to
Ireland with unique experiences.
Zatino LTD works in collaboration with
local businesses in Meath as well as
around the country, bringing tourists to
main visitor attractions and helping them
explore hidden gem
She is the pilot participant of ACORNS,
an innovative programme funded by the
Department of Agriculture, Food and
Marine (DAFM) to support rural female
entrepreneurs starting up their own
business.
Zatino LTD has since built up a strong
Chinese-speaking tour guide and driver
team and successfully signed supplier
contracts with three top online travel
agencies from China. In 2016, more
than 100 Chinese tour operators visited
Ireland on a familiarisation trip organised
by Zatino LTD. The objective of the trip
was to encourage inbound Chinese
business and tourism.
Recently, the company has focused on
tailor-made tours. They recently hosted
30 photographers visiting from mainland
China and Hong Kong and also provided
cultural experiences and festival
performance experiences around Ireland
for a group of Chinese musicians.
At the start of the year Zatino LTD hosted
a large number of senior executives
from Chinese hospitals. It also facilitated
a tour for 30 photographers from
mainland China and Hong Kong. As well
as coordinating an exclusive exhibition
trip for Chinese musicians, this trip
included cultural experiences and festival
performances around Ireland.
In addition Zatino LTD has expanded
its range of complimentary services.
The company offers marketing services
for Chinese government agencies and
companies in Ireland and other European
countries. These services include tourism
and investment promotion events.
The “Charming Beijing” photo exhibition
was held in Wolfe Tone Square, Jervis
Street in Dublin on 28th June, 2019.
The event featured performances of
traditional Chinese and Irish cultures.
The Chinese cultural performances
featured China line dancing, Yangqin
and Guzheng performances and Beijing
Opera. Ma Wen, Deputy Inspector of
Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and
Tourism, Huang He and Oujia Wang
from the Chinese Embassy in Ireland and
representatives from Dublin City Council,
Failte Ireland and UCD Confucius
Institute attended the event.
Noting that 2019 represents the 40 th
anniversary of diplomatic ties being
established between Ireland and China,
Ma Wen, who is a major driving force
in developing Mayo – China links was
full of praise for the positive increase in
“cultural, business and tourism relations
between Ireland and China”.
The photo exhibition which displayed
the profound cultural and historical
116

Ireland-China Business Association
significance of Beijing proved
particularly popular. More than 50
pictures were on display, which were
divided into five themes: ancient capital
Beijing, fashionable Beijing, modern
Beijing, cultural Beijing and Beijing
Forbidden City.
To enhance communication with
local people and provide locals with
a deeper sense of Beijing’s unique
folk culture, a variety of interactive
activities were arranged, including VR
experiencing, Beijing Opera costume
fitting, Beijing scenery photographing,
painting on lanterns and lessons on
how to write Chinese characters. As a
result of their hands-on practice, local
people gained a better understanding
and insight into Beijing.
The Global Distribution Partnership
programme was introduced to Irish
travel agency’s at the Charming Beijing
event. The programme aims to recruit 20
partner agencies from the 12 key markets
including the UK and Ireland by 2020.
The partnership lasts 3 years and can be
renewed thereafter. An incentive reward
of €130,000 will be provided to selected
travel agencies.
opportunities to improve their English
language, personal development and
social skills.
Throughout the week, a rich variety
of Irish culture and heritage activities
were planned for the group. Glen
keen farm, run by Catherine O’Grady
Power, a former participant of the
Empower Growth Programme for
Female Entrepreneurs was the main
destination. The activities ranged from
sheep shearing to sea swimming, gold
expedition to horse riding and Bodhran
crafting to ceile jiving.
On the final day of their visit,
each student was presented with a
certification of course completion by
Justin Sammon, CEO of Mayo North
East Partnership Company. The
certificate illustrated the academic
achievements gained in English
language proficiency level over the
course of the week long English lessons.
The lively graduation ceremony
featured displays of Irish dancing and
singing whilst the attendees feasted on
Chinese dumplings and soup freshly
produced in the Glen keen farm
kitchens.
It also assists in devising broader pr and
advertising campaigns designed to create
market awareness and raise the profile of
its Irish clients operating in China.
For more information please contact: Ms. Jing
Farrelly, Zatino LTD: Address: 15 Harcourt
Street, Dublin 2 Email: jing@zatinotravel.com
Tel: +353 89 212 8311 www.zatinotravel.com
It is envisaged that the participating
agencies will account for up to 200,000
visitors travelling to Beijing each year,
accounting for approximately 4-5% of
Beijing’s inbound visitors.
Zatino LTD is also active in the education
sector, a key area of co-operation
between Ireland and China, and
organising and hosting study tours for
Chinese students coming to Ireland is a
growing element of its business.
Last July, Chinese summer camp group
and a group leader were welcomed to
West Mayo by Glen keen farm for fun
days, farming and forest foraging. The
group came from Shandong province.
This province lies on the east side of
China, about two hours’ drive from
Beijing. The group was led by a Chinese
entrepreneur Mr Sun Chao. Sun Chao
first came to Ireland in 2017. The vast
variety of land, sea and forest activities
gave the students an abundance of
The deepening relationship between
Ireland and China on numerous levels
and across multiple sectors has been a
principal factor underpinning the growth
of Zatino LTD. The company continues
to introduce new services which help
facilitate greater engagement and cooperation
between both countries
Other activities in its increasing portfolio
of services include the provision of
Chinese celebrity management and film
shooting supports in Ireland as well as
translation services and workshops on
Chinese business culture.
In addition, it offers a consultancy
service which assists Irish clients
seeking a foothold in the Chinese
market to develop a strong social media
presence including assistance in creating
a Chinese Brand Name Creation and
establishing accounts on key social
media platforms such as Tencent,
WeChat and Weibo Overseas.
ZATINO TRAVEL:
GET CONNECTED
Group Tourism and Events Experts
Meetings: Zatino Travel
arrangeinvitation and meetings for
Chinese government officials and
business delegation travelling to Ireland,
for examples, meeting with Ministers,
County Councils, Mayors, Environment
Protection Agency, Red Cross, National
Education Committee, Enterprise
Ireland, incubators, Tourism Ireland,
hospitals and building constructors etc.
Incentives: top life insurance companies,
IT companies that on the New York
stock market, Direct Selling companies,
pharmaceutical companies are among
its Chinese clients.
Conferences: Chinese companies
that are coming to Ireland to attend
conferences, either as exhibitors or
professional visitors.
Events: Event organisation and
management for China tourism & cultural
tourism promotion events in Europe.
117

Ireland-China Business Association
Calling China
With a population of 1.3 billion and a burgeoning middle-class,
China is the fastest growing travel market in the world
In 2006 when Tourism Ireland
established its first office in China, just
3,000 visitors from the country visited
Ireland. In 2018, we welcomed an
estimated 100,000 Chinese visitors to the
island of Ireland, an increase of 11% on
the 90,000 visitors who arrived in 2017.
The outlook for 2019 is equally positive
and Tourism Ireland is confident of
building on the double-digit growth
achieved in this market every year for
the last five years. In May the agency
announced that it was doubling its
marketing investment in China to €1
million while also doubling its marketing
team to twelve – with the overall
objective of increasing the number
of Chinese tourists visiting Ireland to
200,000 by 2025.
The announcement was made by ahead of
Tourism Ireland’s largest ever sales mission
to China. A record 26 tourism businesses,
as well as five island of Ireland tourism
industry leaders visited Guangzhou,
Chengdu, Shanghai and Beijing where
they met with hundreds of travel agents
and tour operators, as well as airline
representatives and travel journalists.
“Our review of emerging tourism
markets confirmed China as a market
of considerable opportunity for us,”
said Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism
Ireland. “China is the largest outbound
travel market in the world and one that
Tourism Ireland is committed to growing
over the coming years. Last year, we
welcomed an estimated 100,000 Chinese
visitors to the island of Ireland; Our
aim now is to capitalise on the changing
travel patterns in China to grow Chinese
visitor numbers to 200,000 by 2025 and,
in particular, to grow the number of high
end individual Chinese travellers to the
island of Ireland.”
Tourism Ireland also participated in
the St. Patrick’s Day Global Greening
campaign which saw iconic sights such
as the Great Wall of China and Canton
Tower illuminated in green.
In addition, Tourism Ireland has
developed many marketing partnerships
with airlines and digital platforms in
China and attends trade workshops and
organises trade and media FAMS every
year to bring more exposure to Ireland as
a single destination. This year the agency
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Ireland-China Business Association
is also ramping up its focus on digital
promotions in China.
The Chinese market is seen as holding
huge potential. Last year the number of
outbound Chinese travellers reached 134
million, an increase of 3% or 4 million on
the previous year. Chinese tourists are also
estimated to spend up to $250bn overseas.
With a population of 1.3 billion Chinese,
China has the potential to exert great
influence over the development and
marketing of tourism destinations
worldwide over the next decade. With
the uncertainty of Brexit looming for the
British market, Ireland offers everything
the Chinese visitor is looking for in a
holiday: bustling cities, rich culture,
great shopping, ancient history, stunning
landscapes, unforgettable driving routes
and golf – one of the fastest growing
industries in China.
When it comes to tourism offerings,
Ireland covers all of the bases, whether
it be for adventure travel, heritage,
culture, sporting or gastronomical breaks
and Ireland is known worldwide for
its friendly people, something that the
Chinese market values when selecting
their chosen destination.
120

Ireland-China Business Association
Failte Ireland is also urging Irish tourist
service providers to focus on attracting
more visitors from China. The agency’s
China Ready Programme is aimed at
educating Irish tourism businesses about
the opportunities available from the
Chinese tourist market and is part of Fáilte
Ireland’s work to assist tourism businesses
with market diversification and reduce
the risks currently posed by Brexit. The
Programme is an initiative of Fáilte Ireland
in cooperation with Tourism Ireland and
Tourism Northern Ireland.
The programme offers attendees
introduction to the language, cultural
background and an introduction to
the Chinese economy. They also get
instruction and tips on how to use
Chinese social media, particularly
WeChat, which is the most popular
platform in that country but differs to
Twitter and Facebook.
Fáilte Ireland says it is important that
those providing services here are aware
of the cultural differences between
Ireland and China. For example, the
number four is associated with death
in China, so hotels are advised not to
allocate rooms with this number in them
to Chinese guests. However, 6, 9, and
9 are considered lucky and should be
assigned where possible, according to the
tourism agency.
“The aim of the ‘China Ready
Programme’ is to ensure that the Chinese
visitor is warmly welcomed to Ireland
and that tourism businesses are prepared
and culturally aware of the requirements
of our Chinese visitors,” says Paul Keeley,
Director of Commercial Development at
Fáilte Ireland
The tourism sector has also welcomed
the new 5-year multi-entry visa option
for Chinese tourists coming to Ireland
121

ZATINO LIMITED
HQ: Zatino House,
Fordstown, Navan, Co. Meath
Dublin office:
15 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2, D02 XY47
Facebook /ZatinoTravel
Twitter @ZatinaLtd
T: +353 89 2128311
E: jing@zatinotravel.com
W: www.zatinotravel.com
Wechat: Jean888777333
Congratulations on the “Charming Beijing” photo exhibition
that was held successfully in Dublin.
Please contact us for more information about travel to China
and Global Distribution Partnership for outbound travel agencies

Ireland-China Business Association
which was introduced in June by the
Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie
Flanagan. The announcement coincided
with the 40th anniversary of diplomatic
relations between Ireland and China,
which were established on 22 June
1979, and recognises the importance
of the Chinese tourist market and the
attractiveness of Ireland as a tourist
destination for Chinese citizens.
“The establishment of diplomatic
relations between Ireland and China
40 years ago today opened the door to
stronger people to people and business
to business links between our two
countries and I hope this new visa option
will lead to the continued growth in
this important bilateral relationship,”
Minister Flanagan said:
This latest change to the visa regime
will be a major support in growing
this important tourism market. With a
population of over 1.3 billion people and
a strong economy, China offers fantastic
potential tourism links for Ireland.
Our tourist industry is so important to
communities in every county on the
island of Ireland and I am hopeful that the
changes I am announcing will increase
the number of Chinese visitors coming to
Ireland in the months and years ahead.”
The new 5-year multi-entry visa option
have been available since July 2019.
The option will be available where the
applicant has a proven reliable travel
history as evidenced by a visa previously
granted by Ireland, the United Kingdom,
the Schengen States, Australia, Canada,
New Zealand or the USA and compliance
with the terms of those visas.
This is a further development of the very
favourable Irish visa package for Chinese
visitors that already includes access to the
British Irish Visa Scheme and the Short
Stay Visa Waiver Programme in addition
to the standard Irish short stay visa.
Visitors can currently avail of a 1-year,
2-year or 3-year multi entry visa options.
This new option will provide further
flexibility for the regular holiday traveller
(it is already available for business
travellers). All applications can be made
on-line.
Last year the number
of outbound Chinese
travellers reached
134 million, an
increase of 3% or
4 million on the
previous year.
Chinese tourists are
also estimated to
spend up to $250bn
overseas.
PROMOTING IRELAND
TO CHINESE TOURIST
On the back of last year’s increase of +11%
in Chinese visitors to Ireland, and following
several years of steady growth, Tourism
Ireland is ramping up its investment in China
to €1 million, as part of the Global Ireland
initiative. Under the new strategy, Tourism
Ireland will:
increase its marketing team on the ground
in China to 12; this will include the
establishment of a presence in Hong Kong
for the first time and the appointment of new
digital and PR agencies;
ramp up its publicity, digital and social
media activity in the market; 61% of
Chinese travellers seek opinions online
before selecting a holiday destination and
half of all destination planning is done on
mobile devices; WeChat and Weibo are the
most used social media channels in China,
with over 800 million active users; continue
to work with leading online travel agents
and tour operators in the market, who
report significant growth in their outbound
business overall; undertake a second 2019
sales mission to China this autumn, which
will take in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, to
capitalise on the direct flights to Dublin;
increase its focus on promoting to Chinese
consumers in key cities with direct flights to
Dublin and in prominent gateway regions;
target high end independent travellers;
and establish a high-level ‘Ireland Advisory
Group’ – comprising Chinese CEOs and
senior outbound travel professionals; this
group will meet each year in China and in
Ireland to help maximise opportunities for
tourism to Ireland.
Minister for Transport, Tourism and
Sport, Shane Ross said: “I am happy
to announce that Tourism Ireland is
doubling its marketing budget as part of
its growth strategy in China, the world’s
fastest-growing outbound travel market.
This investment was made possible as a
result of the significant additional funding
that I allocated to Tourism Ireland in
Budget 2019. This will help us deliver on
the ambitious targets set for tourism in
the Government’s ‘Global Ireland 2025’
initiative. This sets out how we will take
Ireland’s global engagement to the next
level over the coming years. As part of this,
Tourism Ireland, with the support of Fáilte
Ireland, will implement its market growth
strategies in several new and emerging
markets like China.
“Over the last number of years, Tourism
Ireland’s strategy has focused on targeting
high-spending markets. The sustained
increase in revenue from such markets has
played a large part in our success in recent
years and there is great potential for China
to become another success story. Our
tourism industry must be ready to react to
the changing market profile of visitors to
Ireland and in this respect, Fáilte Ireland
has developed a ‘China Ready’ Programme
which aims to educate the industry about the
opportunities available from that market.”
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Ireland-China Business Association
Luxury
in Limerick
The Savoy Hotel, Limerick City’s only 5 star hotel is rolling out
the red carpet to welcome Chinese guests.
Limerick tourism received a major boost
recently when Chinese celebrity couple
Tang Yixin and Zhang Ruoyun tied the
knot at Adare Manor last June. The celeb
couple have a combined 33 million
followers on Chinese social media site
Weibo and one of the many celebrity
guests attending the nuptials boasts 40
million followers on the same platform.
Photos of their romantic trip were widely
shared on Weibo and the couple allowed
Tourism Ireland to use snaps of the
couple visiting leading attractions such
as Dunluce Castle, as well as the Dark
Hedges featured in Game of Thrones as
part of its promotional material in China.
Ruth Vaughan, Group Sales Manager of
the Savoy Hotel in Limerick which has
been working assiduously to attract
Chinese tourists is hopeful that the PR
coup will help entice greater numbers to
the region. While Chinese tourists have
been a growing feature of Limerick’s
tourism landscape, Vaughan says
“We are hopeful that the celebrity
wedding in Adare Manor will help to
change that,” she says. “There has been
significant growth in the number of
Chinese tourists visiting Ireland, they
generally fly into Dublin, we would
obviously like to see them move out
of Dublin and travel to Limerick in
greater numbers where they can enjoy a
memorable stay in the Savoy Hotel.”
Our proximity to the wild Atlantic Way
and Shannon Airport are key selling
points. We are also close to the Cliffs of
Moher and many tourism related sites
such as King John’s Castle, St. Mary’s
Cathedral, the new Treaty City Brewery
which is located in the medieval quarter.
Many would argue that The Savoy Hotel is
in itself another compelling reason to visit
Limerick. Situated in the theatre district
in the heart of the city centre and close
to numerous shops and restaurants, it is
Limerick’s most celebrated and glamorous
5* luxury hotel. Lavishly appointed guest
rooms, a luxurious spa, gymnasium and
a private pool await guests while a widely
lauded culinary team and a choice of five
stylish restaurants and bars ensures that
all tastes are catered for.
The Savoy Hotel recently secured
planning permission to add an extra
35 bedrooms in an €8.5 million
refurbishment programme which is
designed to cater for the additional
guests anticipated following a concerted
marketing campaign.
“With the upcoming renovation project
and the new bedrooms being added, we
are looking at new markets,” Vaughan
confirms. “Despite challenges and
the threat of Brexit looming, we have
performed strongly. We are continually
promoting the hotel and working
to ensure we maintain our exacting
standards and provide the kind of
unrivalled 5-star hospitality which our
guests expect.
The Savoy Hotel welcomes a considerable
number of business travellers who visit
Shannon & Limerick business parks, the
majority of which are from the US and the
UK. Weekends are busy with domestic
visitors and during the Summer months
the hotel receives a large contingent of
primarily Irish, British, US & UAE holidays
makers as well as a steadily increasing
flow of Chinese visitors.
China is the largest outbound travel
market in the world and one that Tourism
Ireland is committed to growing over
the coming years. In 2018, aprx 100,000
Chinese visitors visited the island of
Ireland. Earlier this year, Tourism Ireland
announced its intention to double its
marketing investment in China, to €1
million, and to also double its marketing
team to 12, this year, it also aims to
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Ireland-China Business Association
grow the number of high end individual
Chinese visitor to 200,000 by 2025
In May The Savoy Hotel participated
in Tourism Ireland’s biggest ever
sales mission to China. A record 26
tourism businesses, as well as five
tourism industry leaders, took part in
the targeted mission to Guangzhou,
Chengdu, Shanghai and Beijing.
The mission involved meetings with
hundreds of leading Chinese travel agents
and tour operators, as well as with key
airlines and travel journalists.
‘The introduction of direct flights to
Dublin has been a major game-changer
and offers a real opportunity’ with three
direct flights to Dublin – from Beijing and
Shenzhen with Hainan Airlines and from
Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific as well
as The British-Irish Visa Scheme, which
enables Chinese travellers to visit both
Ireland and the UK on a single visa of
either country.
“We have been very active in the
marketplace,” says Vaughan. In addition
to the China Sales Mission we completed
a Tourism Ireland trade mission to the
US, UAE & India covering Boca Raton,
Washington & Atlanta, Mumbai, Delhi
and Abu Dubai & Dubai.
The need to identify new markets and
expand its international clientele has
become increasingly urgent as the
possibility of a hard Brexit with its
potentially devastating impact on the
hotel’s British customer base moves
ever closer.
“We are extremely conscious of Brexit. It
has given us added impetus to identify and
explore new markets and we have been
very proactive in that regard,” she says.
“There are a lot of Irish companies entirely
dependent on the UK and the plummeting
value of sterling is causing real difficulties
across the board. As a result we are upping
our efforts to engage alternative markets
but Britain remains our closest neighbour
and we hope that sense prevails and an
orderly Brexit is still possible.
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Ireland-China Business Association
Much of its efforts and investment has
been focussed on the Chinese market and
it recently completed the China Ready
programme with Failte Ireland, only the
second hotel in Limerick to complete
programme.
For us, engaging with China is a long
term commitment and this excellent
training programme ensures we can
continue to extend a warm and personal
welcome to our Chinese visitors.” The
China Ready Programme’ ensures that
the Chinese visitor is warmly welcomed
to Ireland and that we are prepared and
culturally aware of the requirements of
these visitors.”
Vaughan is an avowed fan of the
programme which she says influences all
aspects of the hotels operations. “Sections
of that program is aimed at sales and
marketing staff while other elements are
aimed at the reception and culinary staff.
It provides comprehensive instruction on
how to treat Chinese visitors and help to
make them feel at home as well as cultural
issues and basic information on how to
greet Chinese visitors, unlucky numbers,
unlucky colours, their likes and dislikes,
their habits and how they interact, as well
as how to present your business card are
all addressed.
“The culinary team also learned about the
type of food they like for breakfast which is
very different to the European preferences
and they were introduced to a variety of
popular Chinese menus and dishes.
“The Chinese are very social media Savvy
and it was a steep learning curve for
all our staff. It was really positive and
provided a strong insight into the social
and cultural differences which exist. Most
importantly it has upped our game and
helped position us to provide our Chinese
visitors with a memorable welcome and
experience at The Savoy Hotel.”
Most recently, Ireland has won a ‘most
promising overseas destination’ award
at a travel summit in China. The award
was presented to Tourism Ireland at
the V-Influence Summit in Chengdu,
organised by Sina Weibo – the hugely
popular microblogging site, often
described as the Chinese version of Twitter.
At the ceremony, Ireland was named
one of the ‘most promising overseas
destinations’ in the world, along with
countries like Argentina and Peru.
The award was presented for Tourism
Ireland’s activity to raise interest in
the island of Ireland among Chinese
travellers on social media.
“In 2018, aprx 100,000
Chinese visitors
visited the island
of Ireland. Earlier
this year, Tourism
Ireland announced
its intention to
double its marketing
investment in China,
to €1 million, and
to also double its
marketing team to
12, this year – to
grow Chinese visitor
numbers to 200,000 by
2025”
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Ireland-China Business Association
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Ireland-China Business Association
Welcoming
Chinese Shoppers
Brown Thomas: Chinese shoppers flock to Dublin’s premier luxury department store
The luxury Dublin department store
Brown Thomas has been a key beneficiary
of Ireland’s flourishing relationship
with China and Chinese tourists as well
as the growing population of Chinese
nationals living in Ireland now account
for a significant proportion of sales at the
capital’s premier retail store.
The broad and diverse range of luxury
brands has long been a magnet for
tourists and in recent years, the volume
and spend of Chinese visitors to Brown
Thomas has begun to match and even
exceed that of high spending US and
British visitors.
According to figures supplied by Fáilte
Ireland, an estimated 100,000 Chinese
tourists visited Ireland last year, up some
30,000 on the 2017 figure. The surge in
numbers was driven largely by improved
access and the introduction of direct
flights to Hong Kong and Beijing as well
as a concerted effort by the national
tourism body, Fáilte Ireland to raise
Ireland’s profile in a country with vast
untapped tourism potential. The agency
forecasts that the number of Chinese
visitors will reach 175,000 by 2025.
All this is good news for Brown Thomas,
which in addition to the flagship
Dublin store, also has outlets in Cork,
Limerick and Galway. Tourism is a vitally
important market segment for the group
and from the outset it has focussed on
engaging and connecting with Chinese
customers, according to Martina Riches,
Brown Thomas Dublin General Manager.
“There has been a dramatic shift in the
diversity and makeup of the store’s
tourist trade over the last ten years, the
biggest shift being the emergence of the
Chinese market,” she says. “Our trade
from China has gone from being top 10 on
our currency list to top 2 and on occasion
even taking the top spot. We have seen
year on year growth for the past number
of years and this year we have seen a
stabilisation on what was a very strong
year last year.”
This progress has not been achieved
without effort and Brown Thomas has
worked assiduously to attract Chinese
customers and to understand their
particular tastes, preferences and habits
and optimise their shopping experience.
“We initially sought to understand the
needs of this new consumer and did this
through our engagement with Fáilte
Ireland, Tourism Ireland and of course
the ICBA,” says Martina.
“We began to build a relationship with
the local Chinese community who in
turn helped us with the recruitment of
Mandarin speakers and worked with us
on a number of events, including student
events with CSSA and shopping events
for the Chinese embassy.”
Mindful of the significant cultural
differences between Irish and Chinese
shoppers Brown Thomas also devised
a curated learning programme for the
entirety of its team which was rolled out
initially in 2016 and again in 2018.
“This learning programme helped our
team to understand how to deal with our
new and existing Chinese clients in a way
that would ensure they were receiving
the best possible customer experience
that would also take their cultural
differences into account,” explains
Martina. “ We have also introduced
during peak season an on-call translation
team who are available 7 days a week to
move around the store and support with
Mandarin translation.
“One of our earlier initiatives involved
working with local Chinese marketing
agents in Ireland to help us create store
maps and signage to guide and inform
our Chinese clients. This has since
developed into a full-time Brown Thomas
marketing team who run our own
official Weibo and WeChat pages with
information on the store and our brands
which is updated daily.”
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Ireland-China Business Association
Promoting brand awareness to the vast
Chinese market has also been a key part
of its wider strategy and it has taken part
in two Tourism Ireland trade missions
to China in recent years, where they
engaged with local travel agents to
highlight the benefits of shopping in
Ireland and why Brown Thomas is the
retailer to visit.
In addition, Brown Thomas partnered
with C-Trip prior to the direct flights
launching last year while its strong social
media presence on WeChat and Weibo
has also significantly enhanced its profile
across the country.
shop remotely and take appointments in
store also.”
Martina is confident of sustaining and
expanding its strong relations with
Chinese customers and will continue
to rely on the tried and tested formula
which has proved extremely successful to
date. “We plan to continue growing our
Chinese business by investing in the right
products and services that we know they
want, whilst also working with the local
community and the ICBA to ensure we are
at the forefront of what’s happening when
it comes to Chinese tourism in Ireland.”
With the development of tourism, Brown
Thomas welcomes groups of tourists
every day and Chinese tourists make up
the largest part of visiting groups to its
stores. Apart from that, Brown Thomas
is also the place where local Chinese go
shopping when they want to expand
their wardrobe, buy gifts for others or
treat themselves to those special pieces
they can’t but anywhere else.
“With the fantastic range of luxury goods in
store, there’s always something in Brown
Thomas for everyone,” Martina notes.
“Chinese customers can always find their
dream pieces in our luxurious Accessories
Hall which has an extraordinary range of
high-end brands and popular styles from
brands such as Loewe and Saint Laurent.
In addition, The Beauty Hall showcases
exclusive brands which appeals greatly to
our Chinese customers also.”
“Brown Thomas houses the most
luxurious and sought-after brands in the
world with a good proportion of them
being exclusive and this is no doubt a key
factor in our popularity. Secondly, the
services we offer to our Chinese clients
make Brown Thomas a popular shopping
destination – they include translation
services, tax-free shopping, tax refund
desk in-store, delivery and vat-free
shopping. There is also a Chinese personal
shopping team who can help customers
“We initially worked
with local Chinese
marketing agents in
Ireland to help us
create store maps and
signage to guide and
inform our Chinese
clients. This has
since developed into
a full-time Brown
Thomas marketing
team who run our
own official Weibo
and WeChat pages
with information
on the store and
our brands which is
updated daily.”
Brown Thomas Dublin
General Manage, Martina Riches
129

Ireland-China Business Association
The Luxury
of Tradition
Weir & Sons Celebrates its Sesquicentennial Anniversary: Iconic Dublin jewellers Weir &
Sons celebrates 150 years this year with a host of exciting commemorative collaborations
with Irish and international brands.
Founded in 1869 by Thomas Weir,
Weir & Sons is one of Ireland’s bestloved
jewellers, occupying a stunning
landmark building on Dublin’s Grafton
Street and a state-of-the art store in
Dundrum Town Centre. Since it was
established 150 years ago, Weir & Sons
has survived two world wars, the Easter
Rising and the establishment of the Irish
State, plus numerous global recessions.
It has played an integral part in Irish
history, creating the Aga Khan trophy in
1926 and welcoming international stars
and dignitaries, including Jacqueline
Onassis, Princess Grace of Monaco and
Walt Disney.
The Weir & Sons of the 21st century is
still a family-run business, run by fourth
and fifth generation family members,
and remains the go-to destination for
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Ireland-China Business Association
exquisite engagement rings and wedding
bands, carrying more gold, diamonds
and world-renowned brands than any
other jeweller in Ireland. The jeweller
also offers an ever-expanding
range of jewellery and watch
brands, often securing exclusive
brands in Ireland, like fashion
jewellery from Astrid & Miyu,
exquisite and opulent jewels
and objects from iconic
brand Fabergé, fine gold
and silver jewellery from
Irish brand Soul Engraver,
and stunning creations
by award-winning British
fine jewellery designer Shaun
Leane.
To launch its year of celebrations,
the brand commissioned a limited
edition silver commemorative plate,
the first hallmarked piece of 2019
by the Dublin Assay office. The
rich history of Weir & Sons is also
set to be captured in a limited edition
coffee table book edited by author and
historian Turtle Bunbury, available in
summer 2019. The jeweller has a number
of other exciting plans in progress to
mark its sesquicentennial year, including
a series of own brand special pieces,
along with collaborations on exclusive
limited edition pieces with Irish jewellery
designers including Juvi and Chupi.
Internationally Weir & Sons has
partnered with Swiss luxury watch
brand Patek Philippe on a stunning
bespoke commemorative Annual
Calendar Chronograph watch, the Patek
Philippe Special Series Ref. 5905P-014
for Weir & Sons. A limited edition of just
25 watches (POA), it features a jewellike
emerald green sunburst dial, and is
further enriched with Patek Philippe’s
statement alligator strap rendered in
verdant green, a hue that not only draws
on Weir & Sons’ proud Irish heritage but
pervades the brand’s history including its
packaging. On the rim of the sapphirecrystal
back, there is “Weir & Sons” and
“150th Anniversary” distinctly engraved
to mark the historic occasion.
The ultra covetable and collectible Patek
Philippe watch, plus other bespoke 150th
collaborations and innovations, will all
marry that special blend of heritage and
modernity that has made Weir & Sons
an Irish icon, ensuring its future for
generations to come
Weir & Sons, 96-99 Grafton Street, Dublin 2,
and Level 1, Dundrum Town Centre, Dublin
16, www.weir.ie.
Weir & Sons has
survived two world
wars, the Easter Rising
and the establishment
of the Irish State,
plus numerous global
recessions. It has
played an integral
part in Irish history,
creating the Aga
Khan trophy in
1926 and welcoming
international stars
and dignitaries,
including Jacqueline
Onassis, Princess
Grace of Monaco and
Walt Disney.
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Ireland-China Business Association
Legends of
The Claddagh
The iconic symbol of love, loyalty and friendship, the Claddagh dates back hundreds of years
and is intrinsically linked with Galway.
Claddagh Jewellers is part of a family
run Irish manufacturing company that
began making fine jewellery in 1967.
With shops in Galway and Dublin, the
company also operate an active online
business with the tagline “From Galway
with Love.”
In 1991 the first Claddagh Jewellers
store opened in Galway’s Eyre Square
Shopping Centre, enabling them to
display their full range of jewellery and
at the same time, to showcase jewellery
from other Irish manufacturers. “The
guiding ethos throughout has always
been to promote Irish design with a
focus on maintaining and expanding the
manufacture of jewellery in Ireland,”
explains Director Andrew Fried.
As they continued to develop new
designs, including a range of diamond
set Claddagh rings inspired by locations
around Galway, Claddagh Jewellery
quickly became a recognised destination,
gaining a reputation as a high-quality
producer of genuine Irish made jewellery
among locals and visitors alike.
In 2006, Claddagh Jewellers moved
to its current location, a prominent
three-story building at the intersection
of Shop Street, Mainguard Street and
High Street in the heart of the old City of
Galway, The Latin Quarter. “This move
allowed the company to consolidate
all parts of the business under one roof
with retail sales on the ground floor,
online sales and service on the second
floor and a large workshop on the top
floor overlooking St. Nicholas’s parish
church, the oldest church in Galway,”
explains Mr. Fried.
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Ireland-China Business Association
With their reputation for quality and
authenticity fully established, a total of
three jewellers and a qualified diamond
setter are now employed, and their range
of jewellery includes fully handmade
pieces, jewellery made through lost
wax casting and a range of semimanufactured
stamped items in Sterling
silver, gold and platinum.
In 2012, Claddagh Jewellers applied to
the Irish Patents Office for recognition of
their business identity and subsequently,
their trading style was granted
protection as an Irish trademark. This
allowed Claddagh Jewellers to position
themselves as makers of the Authentic
Claddagh Ring, a term which is defined
as “a traditional Claddagh Ring that is
designed and made from start to finish,
within the old city walls of Galway,
with the date of manufacture of the ring
recorded in a central register.”
From Galway with Love
When the opportunity arose to secure
the adjoining unit at 26 Shop Street, the
decision was taken to convert it into a
visitor & manufacturing centre open
to the public, named ‘Legend of The
Claddagh Ring’. Making this the focus
of the celebration of 25 years since the
opening of their first store, Claddagh
Jewellers completely refurbished the
location and produced a fascinating short
film, using only local talent, telling the
tale of how the legend of the Claddagh
ring came to be! The visitor center
includes a thatched cottage reminiscent
of the dwellings that existed in the village
of the Claddagh before the 1920’s and
highlights the origin of the Claddagh ring
and its importance to Galway
Combining the story of the Claddagh
ring and keeping the spotlight firmly
on the central theme of the tradition of
Claddagh rings in Galway, it contains a
workshop, information centre, an ample
viewing area and a gift shop. Within the
cottage is a workshop that comprises a
cutting-edge casting plant which entered
production in October 2015 and is on
view to visitors who can see the various
steps in the lost wax casting process from
the injection of wax into moulds to the
final polished product.
“The opening of this centre will obviously
be a huge boost both in visibility to the
public and in manufacturing capability
for Claddagh Jewellers, who as the only
Galway based member of the Federation
of Jewellery Manufacturers of Ireland
(FJMI) and the London Diamond Bourse
(LDB), continue to promote jewellery
made in Ireland by FJMI members while
at the same time ensuring that these
skills are not only kept alive but continue
to grow in Galway,” says Mr. Fried.
Claddagh Jewellers also operate from
a prestigious Dublin base at 2 Grafton
Street.
Centrally located, on the corner of
Grafton Street and directly opposite
Trinity College, this is the only retail
location in Dublin where visitors can
buy Claddagh rings that are made in
Galway.
133

Ireland-China Business Association
The world’s first national
food sustainability programme
The world’s first national
food sustainability programme
What if sustainable
sourcing was simple?
sourcing was simple?
Origin Green, the world’s first national food sustainability
programme Origin Green, is the Ireland’s world’s commitment first national to food a safe, sustainability secure
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every food supply step, making far into it the the future. only independently Members are audited verified at
programme every step, making of its kind. it the only independently verified
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With over 90% of Irish food and drink exports coming
from With over participating 90% of Irish members, food and finding drink a exports sustainable coming
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to a reliable
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Visit OriginGreen.com to learn more.
134

Ireland-China Business Association
The Story of
Irish Whiskey
The Irish Whiskey Museum: History, Storytelling and True Spirit
Why the Irish Whiskey Museum?
The Irish Whiskey Museum is located
right in the heart of Dublin City next to
the world-famous Trinity College and on
the most popular shopping destination
in the city, Grafton Street. The Irish
Whiskey Museum opened its doors in
2014 with the sole aim of telling the
great untold stories of all Irish whiskey,
during a surge in popularity of the spirit
and a clear revival of a product so greatly
entwined with Ireland’s folklore and
history. The Irish Whiskey Museum has
continued to grow in popularity and now
offers a range of experiences, including
but not limited to:
• The Classic Tour: A one hour experience
inclusive of a fully guided tour plus
three perfectly crafted Irish whiskey
tastings. Soft drink included for
children and non-drinking adults.
• The Premium Tour: The Classic Tour
with an additional fourth beautifully
aged Irish whiskey and a unique
souvenir whiskey glass to remember
your day.
• Whiskey Blending Experience: An
extended guided tour with the
opportunity to sample four Irish
whiskeys, followed by the blending of
your very own miniature whiskey to
take home.
• The Whiskey and Brunch Experience:
An experience exploring the history of
whiskey and food throughout the eras
in Ireland. This includes a one hour
tour and tasting of three Irish whiskeys
followed by a traditional Irish brunch
of smoked salmon and soda bread.
These ultra-modern, guided tours consist
of a journey through four different rooms,
three of which are themed to represent
different periods in Irish history. Learn
all about how Irish monks first produced
this famous spirit in the 12th century, to
the golden era of Irish whiskey when the
big whiskey players like John Jameson
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Ireland-China Business Association
and George Roe played a vital role in the
development of the whiskey industry in
Ireland. Journey on to discover some of
the tougher times for Irish whiskey, going
from nearly 200 distilleries in the 1800s
to only having four by the 1950s/60s and
finally, return to 2019, the new Golden Age
for Irish whiskey! The final room of the
tour, the Tasting Room, is where visitors
get to taste and compare three or four very
different Irish whiskeys under the excellent
guidance of a tasting expert.
Finish your visit by shopping in the
exclusive retail space, stocking over 100
brands of Irish whiskey. Need advice?
Whiskey experts in the store can help you
choose the perfect Whiskey gift (or even
a bottle for yourself!) After that, why not
sit back and take in some of the best views
of Dublin from the in-house bar, while
enjoying a traditional Irish coffee, a pint of
Guinness or sampling the whiskey cocktail
menu.
What really makes the Irish Whiskey
Museum so unique is that it is independent
of all Irish distillers, meaning that it can
offer visitors the opportunity to taste
and experience a variety of traditional,
bestselling Irish whiskeys, as well as upand-coming
brands on the Irish market.
So, From Kilbeggan to Bushmills, from
Middleton to Cooley, from Tullamore Dew
to Dingle and from Jameson to Teeling,
you will find it all at the Irish Whiskey
Museum.
“Sit back and take in
some of the best views
of Dublin from the
in-house bar, while
enjoying a traditional
Irish coffee, a pint of
Guinness or sampling
the whiskey cocktail
menu.”
136

WuXi Biologics
Leading innovation in medicines
for patients worldwide
WuXi Biologics, China’s leading biologics services provider,
has chosen Dundalk in Ireland as the location for its first
biopharmaceuticals contract manufacturing facility outside China.
Ireland’s standing as a biopharmaceutical hub, compliant with
stringent national and international regulations, makes it the perfect
location for what will be the world’s largest biopharmaceuticals
facility using single-use technology.
As one of our most ambitious projects yet, this fusion of
Chinese, Irish and international expertise will inspire innovation
in biopharmaceuticals contract manufacturing capability, serving
patients worldwide.
Dundalk@wuxibiologics.com
www.wuxibiologics.com