Ireland To Double Its Footprint In Asia

As the next phase of Global Ireland 2025 gets underway, the government has announced intentions to double its impact in the Asia Pacific region.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Tánaiste Simon Coveney outlined the plans at the Global Ireland Summit in Dublin Castle today, Monday 08 July.

Global Ireland is a multi-annual, whole-of-government strategy to double the scope and impact of Ireland's global footprint by 2025. It is the most ambitious renewal and expansion of Ireland's international presence ever undertaken.

A new Asia Pacific Strategy will be launched this Autumn to set out the path as to how Ireland will double its impact in Asia, with a major conference on growing Ireland's footprint in the Pacific. This will include a new communications strategy to increase Ireland's visibility in the region, kicking off during the Rugby World Cup in Japan, to promote Ireland as a great place to invest, study, trade with, and visit.

It was also announced that as part of the new Diaspora strategy, which will be launched during the global St Patrick's Day celebrations next year, the Government will convene a 'Youth Forum' to engage with this generation's young Irish Diaspora, with a focus on emerging leaders, youth networks and expanding opportunities for our Diaspora to engage with Ireland.

Key achievements in the year since the initiative was launched include:

• An expansion of the 'Ireland House' model in Washington D.C., Abuja and Tokyo, where all Irish government agencies are housed under one roof;

• The publication of a new policy on International Development, setting out the Government's approach to achieving the UN 0.7% GNI target for overseas aid by 2030;

• The successful launch of Ireland's campaign for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council;

• The largest-ever St. Patrick's Day international series, involving 56 high-level programmes across Europe (incorporating all 27 EU Member State capitals), the Middle East, Africa, the Americas and Asia-Pacific, and a 38% year-on-year increase in the number of Team Ireland events around the world.

Global Ireland 2025 also commits to supporting the growth and diversification of export markets, inward investment and tourism, as Brexit becomes a reality. It will ensure that Ireland is better positioned to build the alliances necessary to advance its interests and defend its positions in a post-Brexit EU, while also helping to secure a deep and positive relationship with the UK and its constituent parts into the future.