South Korea hosts first Team Ireland Trade Mission Week
South Korea hosts first Team Ireland Trade Mission Week
From 1-3 November, Seoul played host to the first Team Ireland Trade Mission Week which saw the arrival of Taoiseach and Ministers for Enterprise Trade and Employment, Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for a series of high level engagements.
Trade Mission Week coincided with the launch of the updated Asia Pacific Strategy which refocuses Ireland’s efforts in developing political and economic links in the region.
The Republic of Korea, as a likeminded partner with the 13th largest economy in the world, and with huge potential for increased trade and investment, was an ideal destination for the inaugural Trade Mission Week.
During his visit, Taoiseach held a number of high level meetings, including with President of Republic of Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol. Taoiseach also visited the demilitarised zone separating the North and South. He also paid his respects to the Irish who died during the Korean war at the War Memorial in Seoul.
The Trade Mission commenced on 31 October with the first Joint Economic Commission between Ireland and Korea since 2017, involving significant interdepartmental and inter-agency coordination. Overall, the Trade Mission Week included five bilateral meetings, five high level meetings, 13 trade and investment events, seven education events, and seven agri. related events.
Some particular highlights from the week included progress on market access for Irish beef in Korea, deepening of Ireland - Korea connections across a range of sectors, and a significant increase in visibility of Ireland as a place to visit, invest, study or do business.