The Irish Funds Industry Association has opened a representative office in São Paulo, as it looks to expand its global footprint and strengthen relationships with investment managers and regulatory bodies in key jurisdictions.

The association now has 11 representative offices in association with IDA Ireland, the Irish Government’s inward investment agency. Of those - not including Brazil - four are located in the US, four are in Asia and two are in Europe.

"We want to showcase to them the strength and substance that exists in Ireland as both a domicile and a service centre for international funds. We have a lot of work to do as an industry, but we are operating from a position where we have a depth and breadth of skill and expertise built over twenty years," said Pat Lardner, chief executive of the IFIA.