External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has wrapped up his official visit to Ireland and Northern Ireland, during which he engaged in high-level talks aimed at bolstering bilateral cooperation across various sectors. During his trip, he met with Irish President Michael D Higgins and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Simon Harris, with both parties agreeing to establish a Joint Economic Commission to enhance trade, investment, and technological ties.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) noted that discussions with President Higgins centered around strengthening bilateral relations and addressing global issues. Conversations with Foreign Minister Harris spanned numerous facets of India-Ireland relations, including trade, education, mobility, and emerging sectors such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, FinTech, and semiconductors. The leaders also investigated ways to broaden collaboration in higher education and improve prospects for professionals from both nations.
In a post on X, Jaishankar stated, “I had a warm and open meeting with Tánaiste & FM @SimonHarrisTD of Ireland this morning in Dublin. We discussed our bilateral cooperation, including a new Action Plan to reinvigorate ties. We agreed to set up a Joint Economic Commission to enhance our trade, investment, and technology linkages.”
He further expressed that they exchanged views on crucial global matters including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, developments in West Asia, the situation in Afghanistan, and issues concerning the Indo-Pacific region, while also discussing India-EU cooperation and multilateralism.
During his trip, Jaishankar paid tribute to Rabindranath Tagore’s statue at St Stephen’s Green in Dublin and interacted with the Indian diaspora, appreciating their contributions to Irish society. He also participated in an academic discussion at University College Dublin, sharing India’s perspective on global affairs with students and scholars.
Engagements in Northern Ireland
Jaishankar’s itinerary included a visit to Belfast, where he met Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Junior Minister Aisling Reilly, expressing gratitude for their support in establishing the Indian Consulate in Northern Ireland. He underscored the potential for deepening India’s engagement with the region in areas such as skills development, cybersecurity, technology, creative industries, and manufacturing.
In a post on X, he remarked, “It was lovely to meet Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland @little_pengelly and Junior Minister @aislingreillysf this evening in Belfast. I thanked them for the support in setting up our Consulate. We discussed possibilities for deepening India’s engagement with Northern Ireland.”
The minister also visited Queen’s University in Belfast, which is slated to launch a campus in GIFT City, Gujarat. He engaged with Indian students studying at the university, highlighting the growing academic ties between India and the UK. He noted, “Good to visit Queen’s University in Belfast this evening. Their forthcoming campus in GIFT City, Gujarat, exemplifies the potential of educational collaboration.”
Jaishankar’s visit to Belfast culminated with the inauguration of the Indian Consulate, intended to serve the Indian community and promote cooperation in trade, business, technology, and education. He remarked, “The Consulate will cater to the needs of the Indian community while also exploring further collaboration in trade, technology, business, and education.”
The MEA emphasized that Jaishankar’s visit, occurring within the initial two months of Ireland’s new government, reflects the priority both nations place on enhancing bilateral relations and ensuring ongoing engagement.
