Gov. Eric Holcomb is extending his latest European trade mission another week by following up his visit to potential state business partners in Greece with a series of stops in Ireland focused on improving connections linking Indiana to the Emerald Isle.

The Republican chief executive already announced Monday that Aer Lingus will launch a nonstop flight between Indianapolis International Airport and Dublin, Ireland, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays beginning May 3, 2025.

“Reopening a much needed and frequently requested transatlantic route to our dear friends in Ireland will once again open new opportunities for business and leisure alike,” Holcomb said.

“It’s important that Indiana always keep investing in itself, by letting the world know we’re open for business and not even the sky’s the limit to our cultivated connections.”

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Also on the governor’s agenda is encouraging more trans-Atlantic shipping between the Irish port of Cork and the Port of Indiana at Burns Harbor in Porter County.

“The air and sea connectivity is a game-changer,” Holcomb said. “We’re not just going (on trade missions) to see new things in the world. We’re going to bring things back.”

Indianapolis-based drug maker Eli Lilly and Co. is among the businesses that stand to benefit most from improved ties between Indiana and Ireland.

Lilly recently opened an $800 million facility at Kinsale, Ireland, that will play a key role in its global manufacturing network, alongside the company’s $13 billion investment at the LEAP Research and Innovation District in Lebanon, Indiana.

Holcomb told reporters on a video conference from Ireland Monday that he’s always ready to “go out and hustle” on behalf of Hoosier businesses, as well as talking to those interested in locating in the state and growing the $20 billion in annual trade between Indiana and Ireland.

To that end, the governor and representatives of the Indiana Economic Development Corp., the state’s commerce agency, are scheduled to promote Indiana as a business destination to government and corporate leaders in Dublin, the capital and largest city, and Cork, the second-largest city, along with meeting students attending the University of Notre Dame campus in Dublin.

“Indiana and Ireland share strong ties across our cultures and history, trade and industry — a partnership that only continues to grow,” Holcomb said.

“This week, our delegation will work to foster those connections, discovering new opportunities to work together to advance the global life sciences ecosystem and create a more innovative, more prosperous future for our people across both regions.”

The Republic of Ireland is about 75% the size of Indiana, a member of the the European Union and contains approximately 5.3 million residents. In comparison, some 6.8 million Hoosiers call Indiana home.

The cost of the governor’s travel is being paid using donations to the Indiana Economic Development Foundation.

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