WITH GROWING emphasis on boosting Irish trade with China, there is also more of a focus on what individual regions in Ireland have to offer.

Fine Gael Senator Fidelma Healy Eames has announced the inaugural China-Ireland Relations conference at NUI Galway this Friday, March 23rd, which will take as its heading: “Can Ireland Offer What China Needs?”

“It will show that Galway’s strengths in terms of medical devices, ICT, cloud computing, cleantech potential, agriculture, marine and food – and importantly, education and culture – has the potential to meet some of China’s population needs,” said Ms Healy Eames.

The keynote presentation will be by Leo Corcoran, a special adviser on China strategy, and the conference will be opened by the economic and commercial counsellor from the Chinese embassy in Dublin, Zhang Shujing, and arts and heritage minister, Jimmy Deenihan.

A Chinese delegation will be in attendance, and also taking part will be IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Galway Chamber of Commerce, and NUI Galway, as well as Irish businesses already trading in China.

Professors Fan Hong and Deirdre Hunt from the School of Asian Studies in University College Cork, Zhang Dongxia from NUI Galway and John Killeen, president of Let’s do it Global, will be there too.