February 2026 Newsletter

March 03, 2026

A Chara   Athbhliain Faoi Mhaise Saoibh!   The Irish Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong supports Irish businesses and professionals in succeeding across Hong Kong and the Asia Pacific region. We provide a trusted platform for connection, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing, empowering our members to navigate the local business landscape while deepening commercial and cultural ties between Ireland and Hong Kong. We’re always happy to help! You can find us at info@irishchamber.hk and on LinkedIn.

Year of the Horse   We hope you all enjoyed celebrating Chinese New Year and we wish you a stable Year of the Horse filled with unbridled opportunities allowing you to gallop ahead of the competition and race toward success. With the economy picking up, this is the moment to take the reins and seize opportunities.

Business News   1.      Chinese Ambassador to Ireland Attends CSSA Spring Festival Last month, Ambassador Zhao Xiyuan and his wife attended the 2026 Spring Festival Gala for the Year of the Horse, hosted by the All-Ireland Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA), which gathered community representatives and over 300 Chinese students studying in Ireland.     2.      Strong Global Demand Drives Irish Drinks Growth Switching now to Ireland’s drinks exports which rose 2% to reach €2 billion despite US tariffs and other economic factors according to the annual Bord Bia Export Performance & Prospects Report for 2025/2026. Growth was recorded in several markets including Asia with Irish Whiskey remaining the largest export category at €930 million with Irish Cream Liqueur and beer recording gains too.   3.      Digital Divide: Ireland’s Gender Gap in Advanced Tech Skills An ESRI study has found that Ireland has Europe’s largest gender gap in advanced digital skills at work, with 44% of men using these skills compared to 18% of women which is nearly double the EU average gap. While some of the divide is due to occupational differences, a significant portion remains unexplained even among similarly qualified men and women, pointing to a potential “digital glass ceiling” and highlighting the need to address workplace practices as well as STEM participation. Read the full story here.   4.      Former Taoiseach Shares Reflections on Leadership Leo Varadkar, the former Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland, was interviewed on RTHK, Hong Kong’s public broadcaster, about the challenges leaders face in getting to the top. Listen in here.   5.      Good News for Irish Music Ireland is set to launch the Basic Income for the Arts scheme, said to be the world’s first permanent initiative of its kind, by offering artists €325 weekly for three years. Starting in May, 2,000 eligible artists will be selected via an anonymous process with those not chosen in 2026 able to reapply in 2029. €325 doesn’t seem much but it’s money artists didn’t have before plus it’s still an incentive to create.

Asia Pacific Irish Business Forum 2026 - Hong Kong, China   Planning has begun for the Asia Pacific Irish Business Forum 2026 taking place on the sidelines of the Asian Gaelic Games in November this year. The APIBF2026 offers all members an opportunity to elevate your business network and to enhance trade and investment between Hong Kong, Ireland and Asia.     Ireland's trade with Asia has seen significant growth, with bilateral trade surpassing €21 billion in 2024. China stands out as Ireland's sixth-largest export market and fifth-largest source of imports, making up over 40% of exports to the region. The Asia Pacific Irish Business Forum 2026 will seek to build on these existing trade ties and strengthen synergies across the region and Ireland.     Get involved: While it’s early days yet, if you are keen to help, contact info@irishchamber.hk

Lá fhéile Pádraig sona dhuit!   With St. Patrick's Day just around the corner, we celebrate its roots in honouring Ireland's patron saint, St. Patrick. Originally a solemn feast day, it has evolved into a lively celebration of the vibrant and rich Irish culture. In last month’s newsletter we promised to provide information about the various St. Patrick’s Day events taking place in Hong Kong.   1.      Friday, 13 and Saturday, 14 March – Lan Kwai Fong’s St Patrick’s Day sponsored by Guinness 2.      Saturday, 14 March - St. Patrick’s Society Emerald Gala Ball . This black (with a hint of green) tie event will be at the Hong Kong Football Club with special guest Eleanor McEvoy. There will also be a live match screening of Ireland vs Scotland during the festivities. Tickets cost HK$1,825 to HK$21,000 for a table of 12. See here for more info. 3.      Tuesday, 17 March Irish and American Chamber St Patrick's Day Reception at AmCham Community Hub in Duddell Street. Contact admin@irishchamber.hk if you need more information. 4.      Tuesday, 17 to Sunday, 22 March - Irish Festival Week at Stormies and sponsored by Guinness at Central Market. The St. Patrick’s Society will be running the children’s area at the venue. 5.      Friday, 20 March - The highly celebrated Eleanor McEvoy will be performing at the Methodist Church in Wanchai. Tickets are available from Eleanor McEvoy, Live in Hong Kong | St. Patrick's HK   [For a taste of home, Dublin’s National St. Patrick’s Day parade website has an abundance of information and social media links. Visit https://stpatricksfestival.ie/]   Remember to wear something green on St. Patrick’s Day!

Networking News   On 24 February, we partnered with the Mexican and South Korean chambers for a Chinese New Year joint event for networking and various beverages from each country.

Sports News  There are runners, ultra runners and then people like Adharanand Finn who took on the epic feat of a 1,400 mile run around Ireland. Starting in Dublin, Finn’s route took him through the Wicklow mountains to Cork, up past Galway, then onto Donegal, through Northern Ireland and then back to Dublin. Running 20 miles a day, this epic adventure took almost ten weeks. Writing about it in The Guardian, Finn describes the run as being a means to discover his ancestry through scenic regions and the generous hospitality he received along the way and shares traditional music and culture experiences. Well worth a read. Search for ‘I ran 1,400 miles around Ireland’ to read more about this fascinating journey.

Arts and Culture

Don’t forget to get your tickets to see Eleanor McEvoy perform in Hong Kong!

New Book by Mark O’Neill

Earlier this month, we caught up with Mark O’Neill about his new book, The Irish in Hong Kong, which is a joint venture with former Irish Consul‑General David Costello and published by Earnshaw Books. The book tells the story of how Irish men and women have helped shape Hong Kong’s development over the past two centuries. The book traces contributions across public service, finance, law, religion, sport and business, highlighting how deeply embedded the Irish legacy is in the city’s foundations.   The Irish in Hong Kong tells of Irish figures holding nine of the city’s 28 governorships, founded key institutions, led the judiciary and banking sector, how education was transformed through Wah Yan and La Salle schools, and, notably, reduced tuberculosis from a post-war epidemic to minimal levels. The book also talks about champion jockeys, rugby players and, of course, Hong Kong's first World Record holding and Olympic swimmer, Siobhan Haughey who has registered 24 Hong Kong records, 6 Asian records and has broken Hong Kong and Asian records 99 times and 23 times respectively.  Available on Amazon and at Bookazine and Kelly & Walsh bookstores, get your The Irish in Hong Kong book now. For more information see here and here.

Add These Dates   13 and 14 March – Lan Kwai Fong’s St Patrick’s Day 14 March - St. Patrick’s Society Emerald Gala Ball 17 March - Irish and American Chamber St Patrick's Day Reception at AmCham Community Hub 17 to 22 March - Irish Festival Week at Central Market. The St. Patrick’s Society 20 March - Eleanor McEvoy at the Methodist Church in Wanchai. 17-19 April 2026 - Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens

A Big Thank You to Our Sponsors  The Irish Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong is proud to be supported by Airwallex, AMT, Atelier Bouclier, Boase Cohen & Collins, Crown Worldwide Group, Enterprise Ireland, the Government of Ireland’s Emigrant Support Programme, InvestHK, Kildare Village, LynxCap Investments, Precious Metals Asia, Sors, The Beat Hong Kong and The Hong Kong Corporate Services Group. Their valued support enables the Chamber to deliver high‑quality events, insights and networking opportunities that strengthen and connect the Irish business community in Hong Kong.

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