Mexico, Ireland Celebrate 50 Years of Strategic Ties

Mexico and Ireland are celebrating 50 years of ties by boosting trade, investment, and cooperation in sectors like tech, manufacturing, and sustainability. Irish investment has supported Mexico’s manufacturing, technology, and food sectors, while reinforcing Ireland’s role as a hub of innovation and value-added trade.

The bond between both nations traces back to the Battalion of San Patricio. This group of Irish-American soldiers defected from the US Army during the Mexican-American War (1846–1848) to fight for Mexico. This enduring symbol of friendship was followed decades later by the opening of Mexico’s Embassy in Dublin in 1991 and Ireland’s in Mexico City in 1999 — milestones in the deepening of diplomatic, cultural, and economic ties.

A Strategic and Growing Economic Alliance

Ireland and Mexico are key partners in global trade and investment, anchored by shared memberships in multilateral organizations such as the United Nations (UN), the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the World Trade Organization (WTO). Their collaboration has grown in scope, particularly in sectors like medical devices, technology, beverages, and advanced manufacturing.

According to Mexico’s Ministry of Economy, in 2024, Mexico’s main export to Ireland was instruments and appliances used in medical sciences, valued at US$138 million, with primary shipping origins in Jalisco (US$223 million), Baja California (US$122 million), and Mexico City (US$87.4 million). Meanwhile, Mexico imported US$2.31 billion worth of odoriferous substances and mixtures used in beverages from Ireland.

In April 2025, Mexico’s international exports to Ireland totaled US$60.3 million, while international imports reached US$308 million, resulting in a trade balance of negative US$248 million.

Trade is not the only front of the bilateral relationship. Ireland is Mexico’s eighth largest trading partner within the European Union, and over half of Ireland’s trade with Latin America flows directly to Mexico. According to Mexico’s Ministry of Economy, from 1999 to 2024, Mexico received a total of US$5.1 billion in Irish Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). In 2024 alone, FDI from Ireland totaled US$245 million, with key destinations being Chihuahua (US$178 million), Mexico City (US$30 million), and Baja California (US$18.5 million).

Ireland: An Agile, Open Economy in Global Value Chains

According to the European Commission, Ireland enters the 2H25 with robust economic momentum. Real GDP grew by 1.2% in 2024, and modified domestic demand expanded by 2.7%, underpinned by a strong labor market and easing inflation. Preliminary data shows that GDP grew by 3.2% quarter-on-quarter in 1Q25, likely driven by export acceleration in anticipation of potential international trade restrictions.

Though headline investment declined in 2024 due to a dip in intellectual property transactions, modified investment, which excludes volatile components, saw modest growth. Ireland’s GDP is projected to grow by 3.4% in 2025 and 2.5% in 2026, despite global economic uncertainties and protectionist risks affecting its deep trade ties with the United States. 

According to the Central Statistics Office of Ireland, in 1Q25, Ireland’s economy showed strong momentum, with GDP growing by 7.4%, driven largely by a surge in goods exports. Ireland, one of the most open and export-driven economies in the world, remains a wealthy country and a net exporting nation with a per capita GDP in 2025 of US$107,316.3, says the World Bank .

Ireland’s high level of integration in global value chains (GVCs) is evident in its foreign value-added share of exports, which stands at 43.8%, nearly six times the OECD average (7.4%). This reflects the dominance of multinational enterprises in Ireland’s industrial landscape. In 1Q25, the globalized industrial sector expanded by 16.5%, while the multinational-dominated sectors overall grew by 13.6%.

Industrial Powerhouse and Services Innovation

According to UK-based financial services group Lloyds Bank, industry accounts for about one-third of Irish GDP, with 18% of the workforce employed in the sector. Ireland is home to global giants such as Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and Boston Scientific. In parallel, emerging sectors like renewable energy, ICT, cybersecurity, fintech, and clean tech are gaining prominence, supported by favorable tax policies, talent availability, and R&D investment.

Ireland’s service sector, contributing 60.9% of GDP and employing 78% of the labor force, is equally dynamic. Dublin stands out as a financial hub, while the tourism sector, supported by €6.2 billion (US$7.2 billion) in visitor spending in 2024, continues to rebound. Furthermore, Ireland’s thriving digital economy is home to major players like Google, Facebook, and Microsoft.

Ireland’s population has also seen remarkable growth, reaching 5.38 million in April 2024, an increase of 98,700 people in one year — the largest growth since 2008. The country is not only aging but also becoming more diverse. In 2022, 12% of residents were non-Irish citizens, with strong growth in communities from India and other global regions. An additional 170,000 people hold dual citizenship, further highlighting Ireland’s openness and international integration.

The Future of Mexico-Ireland’s Relationship

With the launch of the Global Ireland Strategy for Latin America and the Caribbean to 2025, Ireland set the stage for a deeper, more strategic engagement with Mexico across trade, culture, education, and people-to-people exchanges. As both nations pursue sustainable, innovation-driven growth, their partnership is poised to play a pivotal role in connecting the European Union and Latin America through shared values, dynamic economies, and a commitment to global cooperation. 

On May 30, 2025, Mexico and Ireland held the IX Meeting of the Mexico-Ireland Political Consultation Mechanism at Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The session was led by Deputy Minister María Teresa Mercado and Secretary General Sonja Hyland of Ireland’s Foreign Ministry. Marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, both delegations reviewed bilateral and multilateral priorities, identified new areas of cooperation, and reaffirmed shared commitments. Hyland highlights the fast-growing trade and investment ties, support for the modernized EU-Mexico Global Agreement, and a joint commitment to gender equality, human rights, international humanitarian law, and climate action on the global stage.