About 180 leaders in business, sport and culture are expected to attend Ireland’s first Global Economic Forum in Farmleigh House in the Phoenix Park in September.

The forum will be hosted by Taoiseach Brian Cowen and Micheál Martin, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, over the weekend of September 18-20. It is expected to attract senior executives from major multinational companies, as well as high achievers in sport and culture, and individuals who have a strong business connection to Ireland, according to Martin.

He described it as ‘‘a national effort to reach out to the most successful and influential members of Ireland’s diaspora to facilitate their work and contribution to economic recovery’’.

He said that a high rate of acceptances had been received from Irish diaspora based in Britain, continental Europe, the US, Asia, Australia, and the Gulf region.

Martin said that the event would harness the talents ‘‘of people who are conscious of worldwide trends in business and technology’’ and could contribute to an Irish economic recovery. ‘‘The second key element is to find ways to network this global diaspora more effectively in the future in a way that will contribute to Ireland and also benefit the network,” he said.

All government departments and ministers will attend the event which will include discussions across a range of policy areas and practical initiatives. Irish businesspeople will also be represented and the topics being considered at the event will include Ireland as an innovation island, the dig ital and life sciences, and marketing ‘Brand Ireland’.