Avedisian Touts Warwick to Ireland Businesses During Trade Mission

KNOCK, COUNTY MAYO, IRELAND – Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian and Rhode Island business executives ended their trade mission to Ireland Saturday, promoting Warwick as an expansion destination as well as discussing cargo flights and expanded Norwegian Air flights to TF Green Airport.

Joseph Iovini, Vice President of Dean Warehouse in Cumberland; Roy Coulombe, CEO of Royal Advisors and Consultants in Lincoln; Richard Pinto, CEO and JR Pagliarini; President, Fabiani Pinto LLC in Providence, which conceived and manages the Ireland West International Trade Centre in Providence and the Rhode Island Trade & Tourism Center in Castlebar, County Mayo, accompanied the mayor.

“I saw first-hand this past week the expansive reach of the six Irish counties that constitute the Ireland West International Trade Centre in Providence. The incredible access we were granted to the current and former prime ministers, cabinet ministers, and county executives and mayors, and their sharing with us their credible relationships with their constituent companies looking to expand into the U.S. all bodes very well for City Centre Warwick’s and Rhode Island’s future,” Mayor Avedisian commented.

“I had the privilege to lead Governor Chafee’s May 2014 trade mission to Ireland. We were joined by Marcel Valois, Don Sweitzer and Kelly Fredericks. The MOU’s the governor signed with Irish businesses for inbound business to Rhode Island, and for direct flights from TF Green with Shannon and Knock airports, along with his invitation to then Prime Minister Kenny to come to Rhode Island, were the initial sparks.” said Pinto.

“The Prime Minister kept his word and came to Rhode Island five months later in September 2014 – the Lincoln Chafee and Enda Kenny visits were the true catalysts for the Norwegian flights, the Rhode Island and Ireland Trade Centers to become reality, and for many more great things to come from this perfect “doorway” alignment between Rhode Island and the Northeast Corridor and the west coast of Ireland and the EU’s 500-million-person market, ” Pinto said.

During the mission, the members of the trade delegaton:

• Engaged in discussions with CEOs from more than 20 Irish businesses looking to enter the U.S. market and promoted Warwick as the ideal location to set up their operations;
• Conducted planning sessions with officials and board members from Cork Airport, Shannon Airport in Clare, and Ireland West Airport Knock in Mayo to develop cargo business with TF Green Airport, and secure Norwegian Air flights between Green and Knock airports.
• Launched the Rhode Island Trade & Tourism Center in Castlebar, the capital of County Mayo, with Richard Finn, Mayo of County Mayo, former Prime Minister Enda Kenny, along with Mayo, Sligo and Roscommon local enterprise office heads and business leaders.  The Rhode Island Trade & Tourism Center, housed in the 10,000-sq. foot U.S. Innovation Showroom, is a “speed to market” landing spot for Rhode Island companies looking to enter the 28-country member European Union market via Ireland with a ready-to-go international office address, and product and work space facilitated by local Irish government and commercial sales representatives.  The Center is a mirror bookend to the Ireland West International Trade Centre in Providence for Irish companies entering the U.S. market via Rhode Island launched May 24 by Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza and Irish government officials.