Cowen leads high-level Irish trade mission to Japan

The Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, is travelling to Japan today to head up the largest-ever Irish trade mission to the country.

Mr Cowen will be accompanied on the trip by Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith and Junior Enterprise Minister John McGuinness.

One of their main objectives will be to restore the Japanese market for Irish pork and bacon products following the dioxin contamination scare at the end of last year.

Japan has the world's second-largest economy and Irish exports to the country are worth around €2bn annually.

However, the vast majority of this trade comes from foreign-owned multinationals, with Irish-owned firms exporting just €95m worth of goods.

Seventy Irish companies and organisations are taking part in this week's trade mission, which has been arranged by Enterprise Ireland.