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Cork trade agreement builds on ties with State of Maine

September 17th, 2018 10:15 PM

By Southern Star Team

Tim Lucey with county mayor Cllr Patrick Gerard Murphy and Denise Garland, Commissioner, Maine DECD. (Photo: Brian Lougheed)

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Business, tourism and academic ties between Cork and the US State of Maine have been strengthened. 

BUSINESS, tourism and academic ties between Cork and the US State of Maine have been strengthened. 

Cork County Council this week signed an Economic Partnership Agreement with the US State seeking to build on the strengths of both regions across a variety of industries and sectors.

Since an initial introduction to State authorities in February this year, the two regions have been exploring ways in which their territories can benefit from collaborating. Cultural links between Maine and Ireland are strong, with 18% of the State’s population tracing their ancestry to Ireland.    

Earlier this year, a similar partnership agreement was signed between the City of Quincy and Cork County Council. Tim Lucey, chief executive of Cork County Council welcomed Denise Garland, Commissioner of the Maine department for economic and community development representing the Governor Paul LePage, who was unable to make the trip.

‘This agreement is just the start of our exploration of areas of common interest to us both such as marine renewables, fishing, the blue economy, marine technology but also tourism and the food and drink sectors,’ she said.

The partnership signing was made at the start of a packed itinerary that includes visits this week by the Maine delegation to Cork Institute of Technology, the MaREI centre and National Maritime College in Ringaskiddy and the Skibbereen Heritage Centre and the Taste of West Cork Food Festival.

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