Taoiseach Micheál Martin is set to tour Japan and Singapore to strengthen Ireland’s relationship with both countries.
Mr Martin will also express his sympathies to the people of Japan after the recent assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe.
He will also meet with Japan’s current leader, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
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Speaking ahead of the trip, he said: “I am greatly looking forward to my visit to Japan and Singapore, two nations with which we in Ireland have much in common.
“While there, I expect to discuss Russia’s immoral and inhumane invasion of Ukraine, the impact of which is being felt all around the world.
“We’ll also discuss global challenges, maintaining economic growth, restoring broken supply chains, and how we can work together on climate change.
“Our Global Ireland Asia Pacific Strategy seeks to deepen our links across the region, and this trip will be an opportunity to create even more opportunities for our countries to work together.”
In Tokyo, the Taoiseach will meet with political representatives, the business community and members of the Irish diaspora.
In the past two years, Ireland’s exports to Japan amounted to €12.7 billion in goods and services. Ireland is the 7th largest beef exporter to Japan – in 2020, 4800 tonnes, to the value of about €15.7 million.
Agri food exports to Japan were worth €147 million in 2020 and approximately €170 million in 2021. While agri food exports to Singapore exceed €35 million every year. Imports from Japan to Ireland amounted to a total of €3.2 billion for the years 2021 and 2020.
The Taoiseach will also visit the site of the new Ireland House in Tokyo which is due for completion in 2024 under the Government’s Global Ireland Strategy.
In Singapore, the Taoiseach will meet with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Mr Lawrence Wong. He will also meet with a number of Irish companies operating in Singapore, engage with the Irish community and visit Changi Chapel and Museum.
It’s estimated that there could be up to 6,000 Irish people living and working in Singapore, particularly in professional management and engineering. There are around 130 Irish companies in Singapore and €1 billion in trade between the countries - with a large amount of duck exported to Singapore from Ireland.
This is the first visit to Japan by a Taoiseach since 2013 and the first to Singapore since 2004.
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