Naval patrol vessel part of national trade promotion in Asia

Enterprise  Ireland and the Naval Service are mounting the State's most ambitious overseas trade promotion to date, with the despatch of a Naval Service patrol ship on a 25,000-mile mission to Asia.

The LE Niamh is due to set sail from Haulbowline in Cork early next month, following approval by the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith. The agency says the voyage - the cost of which is estimated at over €1 million - will provide a platform for Irish trade promotion in Singapore, China, Korea and Japan. The details will be announced in Cork today when the President, Mrs McAleese, visits the ship.

Mr Peter Coyle, Enterprise Ireland's executive director with responsibility for software industry development and Irish trade in Asia and the Americas, told The Irish Times 70 Irish companies working in the region would be involved in promotions on the ship in the various ports. Some 2,000 Asian business representatives have been targeted during the three-month mission.

Last year, Irish-owned manufacturing service and food companies exported €560 million in goods to Asia, a 35 per cent increase on 1999. However Ireland has no real profile in the area, and it is hoped that the use of the ship will help address this.

The ship's route will take in Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Inchon in south Korea, Tokyo in Japan, and Penang in Malaysia.

Mr Smith has emphasised that the ship will be engaged initially on a re-supply mission to Irish soldiers serving with the United Nations in Asmara, Eritrea in north-east Africa. Some 220 Irish soldiers have been serving with the UN missions in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) since December last.

The project is the outcome of a study undertaken in 1999 by the Government's Asia Strategy Committee, aimed at long-term development of Irish trade in Asia. Medium-term economic growth prospects in the region are regarded as very healthy.

The report of the group identified Ireland's lack of profile in the region - it is often mistaken for Iceland by the general public. The report advised that the State increase the resources devoted to Asia and that China and Japan be singled out for promotional efforts. Both the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, have led trade missions to China and Japan in the last three years as part of this strategy.