Major Irish trade delegation arrives in Japan to forge business links

The largest trade delegation ever to leave Ireland arrived in Japan yesterday to kick off a week-long mission aimed at promoting increased business links with the world's second-largest economy.

More than 60 companies across various sectors are participating in the mission organised by Enterprise Ireland and aimed at strengthening trade and investment relations between the two countries.

The Irish Ambassador to Japan, Mr Declan O'Donovan, told the Nikkei Paper Group Global Information Summit in Tokyo yesterday that Japan was now Ireland's seventh-largest trading partner and a key export market for Irish goods and services.

Provisional figures show that total trade and investment between Ireland and Japan for last year was in the region of £4.5 billion with Irish exports increasing by 6.3 per cent.

He said the huge trade mission in Japan was testament to the substantial growth in the economy in the last decade and was intrinsically linked to the unprecedented opportunities available in Ireland to national and foreign investors.

Mr O'Donovan delivered the address on behalf of the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, who had to cancel plans to lead the trade mission due to talks on the North. The Tanaiste, Ms Harney, will arrive in Tokyo today to complete the Taoiseach's programme.

Mr O'Donovan told the conference that Ireland and Japan had emerged a world leaders in IT and software sectors. He said Ireland had a track record attracting foreign direct investment and it was important that electronic commerce was encouraged and developed.

On Monday, 15 of the IT companies on the trade mission will hold a seminar for the leading Japanese IT companies with a view to building long-term relationships.

The Asia director of Enterprise Ireland, Mr Paddy Delaney, told The Irish Times that there was huge potential for Irish companies to do business in Japan, particularly in the software sector.

Meanwhile, more than 500 people attended the annual Emerald Ball in Tokyo last night.

Ms Harney will attend the St Patrick's Day parade in Tokyo on Sunday week. She will deliver the keynote address to the Japan Ireland Economic Association on Monday.