Taoiseach to head Indian trade mission

The Taoiseach will lead the largest-ever trade mission to India in mid-January, it emerged today.

Bertie Ahern, who will be joined by three Cabinet ministers and more than 100 delegates, will be the first taoiseach to visit the world’s 10th-largest economy.

The six-day visit from January 16 to 22 aims to deepen business and political ties between the two countries and will focus on major cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin, Minister for Education and Science Mary Hanafin and Minister for the Arts, Culture and Tourism John O’Donoghue are also travelling with their officials.

Mr Ahern said that Ireland’s smooth bilateral relations with India should foster the development of stronger political and economic ties.

“There is no reason why we should not build on this strong base,” he said.

“India is important for us. India can access the European market through us and it makes huge sense to say India can collaborate with us in different markets.”

The mission is part of a long-term Government strategy to assist Irish businesses to expand into Australia, Japan, South Korea, China and India.

The major initiative is aimed at generating €3bn in new export sales by 2007.

Irish exports to these countries increased by 11% last year, according to Enterprise Ireland.

India is the second-most-populous country in the world, with a population of more than one billion, and is the seventh-largest by geographical area.

Its economy is ranked as the 10th largest in the world in terms of currency conversion and the fourth largest in terms of purchasing power parity.

It recorded an annual growth rate of around 8% in 2003.

In January 2004, Mr Ahern headed the largest-ever Irish trade mission to China.