External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar paid an official visit to Ireland, underscoring the mutual commitment to enhancing bilateral relations. During his visit, he held high-level engagements with Irish President Michael D. Higgins and his counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Simon Harris, discussing the entire spectrum of bilateral ties and agreeing to establish a Joint Economic Commission.
In his meeting with President Higgins, Jaishankar exchanged views on the growing India-Ireland relationship and key regional and global developments. This dialogue emphasized the shared interest in fostering closer diplomatic and economic partnerships.
Jaishankar also engaged in delegation-level talks with Simon Harris, where they reviewed bilateral cooperation across diverse sectors and addressed global and regional matters of mutual interest. Both sides expressed satisfaction over progress in areas like trade, economy, education, mobility, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges. They also explored expanding collaboration in higher education and creating opportunities for businesses and professionals in emerging sectors such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, fintech, and semiconductors.
As a step towards enhancing institutional cooperation, the two nations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on diplomatic exchanges, aimed at sharing expertise and training programs for diplomats. Additionally, Irish FM Harris presented Ireland’s Action Plan to boost engagement with India, reflecting the Irish government’s long-term commitment to deepening ties.
Recognizing the importance of strengthening economic collaboration, India and Ireland agreed to set up a Joint Economic Commission to facilitate greater trade and investment. This move is expected to unlock new opportunities and streamline bilateral economic efforts.
During his visit, Jaishankar shared India’s global perspective with prominent academicians and scholars at an event hosted by University College Dublin. He also paid floral tributes to the statue of Rabindranath Tagore at St Stephen’s Green in Dublin, symbolizing the cultural connection between the two nations.
Jaishankar concluded his visit by interacting with members of the Indian community in Ireland, acknowledging their valuable contributions to Irish society. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted that this visit, occurring within the first two months of Ireland’s new government, reflects the priority both sides place on strengthening bilateral ties and their commitment to sustained engagement.
