Jaishankar’s Visit to Ireland Strengthens Bilateral Ties

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar recently completed an official visit to Ireland, where he engaged in productive discussions with Irish President Michael D Higgins and Foreign Minister Simon Harris. The visit was focused on strengthening bilateral ties, with key talks covering trade, economy, education, and cultural exchange. A major outcome of the visit was the agreement to set up a Joint Economic Commission to enhance economic cooperation between the two nations.

During his visit, Jaishankar discussed the growing India-Ireland relationship with President Higgins, exchanging views on regional and global developments. The EAM also participated in delegation-level talks with Minister Harris, where they reviewed a wide range of bilateral issues and explored shared global and regional matters of interest.

Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the progress made in several sectors, including trade, education, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges. They explored opportunities to expand collaboration in higher education and identified emerging sectors such as cyber security, artificial intelligence (AI), fintech, and semiconductors as key areas for future cooperation.

As part of his visit, Minister Harris presented Jaishankar with a copy of Ireland's Action Plan aimed at strengthening the country's engagement with India. The two ministers also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on diplomatic exchanges, which will enhance institutional cooperation and the sharing of experiences in diplomat training programs.

Recognizing the importance of increasing trade and economic ties, both sides agreed to the establishment of the India-Ireland Joint Economic Commission. Jaishankar also interacted with prominent academics at University College Dublin, discussing global perspectives and India's role in the world. During his visit, he paid floral tributes to the statue of Rabindranath Tagore in St. Stephen's Green, Dublin, and met with the Indian community in Ireland, acknowledging their valuable contributions to Irish society.

The visit, which took place within the first two months of Ireland’s new government, highlights the shared commitment between India and Ireland to further strengthen their bilateral relationship and continue fostering sustained engagements moving forward, as stated by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).