New Delhi, Mar 12 (UNI) Days after the visit of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to Dublin, Ireland’s Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation, and Science James Lawless will be visiting India next week.
In his March 6-7 visit, EAM had held talks with his Irish counterpart Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Simon Harris, during which they discussed expanding collaboration in the higher education sector, and furthering trade and investment, among other things.
Minister Lawless is visiting India as part of Ireland’s strategic commitment to deepening ties with India. His visit to India is part of Ireland’s global outreach celebrating St. Patrick’s Day 2025, on March 17.
Minister Lawless is expected to outline Ireland’s ambitious vision for expanding partnership with India across trade, investment, innovation, and education.
With India cementing its position as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, this visit reinforces Ireland’s commitment to fostering stronger bilateral relations, a statement from the Irish Embassy said.
The delegation, led by Enterprise Ireland (EI)—Ireland’s trade and innovation agency—and IDA Ireland, the country’s foreign direct investment (FDI) agency, in collaboration with the Irish Embassy, will engage with top Indian business leaders, policymakers, and academic institutions to explore new opportunities for investment, trade, and knowledge exchange.
India is one of Ireland’s most significant economic partners in the Asia-Pacific region, ranking third among Asian nations in terms of FDI in Ireland, accounting for 16% of total projects from the region. Indian companies continue to leverage Ireland’s strategic position as a gateway to Europe, with 566 investment projects spanning IT services, fintech, life sciences, and manufacturing.
At the same time, India offers a unique growth opportunity for Irish businesses. According to Enterprise Ireland, India’s fintech and med-tech sectors are on a rapid growth trajectory, presenting significant opportunities for Irish firms specializing in digital banking, cybersecurity, healthcare IT, and medical devices.
This visit follows a series of recent developments that have reinforced India-Ireland relations. Earlier this month, India and Ireland unveiled several new measures to boost cooperation in trade, investment, and technology, including a new action plan to strengthen ties and the establishment of a joint economic commission for trade consultations during External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s visit to Ireland—the first high-level visit from the Indian side since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip in 2015.
