Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern will stress his support for direct flights between Ireland and Japan on a visit to the country next week.
Japan is our largest trading partner in Asia, and last year two-way trade between the countries was worth over €4 billion.
Speaking after he met a delegation from the Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro) which promotes foreign direct investment into Japan, Mr Ahern said in the past Ireland and Japan had not done enough to forge greater economic ties. There was great scope for major mutual improvement of economic development and this would be fast-tracked by direct air links.
"Direct air links between a world economic superpower such as Japan and Ireland will happen eventually. I believe now the time has come to fast-track that; when I visit Japan next week and meet with my Japanese counterpart Minister Taro, I will be urging that both countries press to deliver on those direct links."
He said such links would allow for greater economic development and investment in both directions, and would pave the way for Ireland to tap into the large golf market in Japan.
"One-third of all links courses in the world are in Ireland. Just imagine what an attraction that is for golf-mad Japanese businessmen."
During its visit Jetro signed a memorandum of understanding with Enterprise Ireland and the IDA under which each will develop a strategy on joint trade promotion and joint investment.