Claire Cronin, US Ambassador to Ireland will be the guest speaker at this year’s Waterford Chamber Annual Dinner, taking place tonight in the Tower Hotel.
The Annual Dinner, sponsored by RelateCare, is the highlight of Waterford’s business calendar and promises again to be an excellent opportunity for networking and client hospitality in the region.
As Waterford continues to make its mark on the global stage, Waterford Chamber President Paul Nolan says he is delighted to have the opportunity to foster even greater Irish/US relations and is keen to showcase the strength of the South East region to the Ambassador.
“Waterford, as the largest city in the South-East region and a catchment population of circa 662,000 within an hour’s drive, is a key hub for international trade, acting as an important centre for employment, enterprise, healthcare, transport, and innovation," he said.
"The city has been earmarked for development into a ‘Regional City of Scale’ under the government’s National Planning Framework (NPF), with a population growth of at least 50% planned by 2040 to reach at least 85,000.
“This coupled with the fact that there are over 30 companies across the South East region with direct links to the US and now with a growing university producing thousands of highly skilled professionals each year, the opportunity for foreign direct investment has never been more prevalent.
“Who more fitting to address this than our speakers, Ambassador Claire Cronin. This year’s annual dinner will celebrate the direct links our region has with the US, while encouraging further growth and development in this regard.”
Ahead of her visit to Waterford, Ambassador Cronin said, “I am delighted to attend this year's Waterford Chamber of Commerce's annual dinner.
"The South-East of Ireland is a region that shares such a wonderful relationship with the United States through our strong cultural, economic and political linkages.
"We look forward to further strengthening this relationship and to supporting the already vibrant two-way trade and investment activity that exists between Ireland and the United States."
Prior to her appointment as US Ambassador to Ireland, Ambassador Cronin served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and was the first women to serve as House Majority Leader.
During her service as a legislator, Ms. Cronin was also Chair of the Committee on the Judiciary, where she was the architect of significant pieces of legislation, including major criminal justice and police reform.
Ambassador Cronin dedicated much of her legislative career to advocating for increased education funding. She worked extensively on improving access to mental health and substance abuse services, increasing protections and services for victims of domestic violence, and advancing civil rights.
For all your latest Waterford news and sport, click here.
