Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 72: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will be leading any trade missions to Japan in 2011; his plans to increase trade to Japan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17077/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Trade missions are a valuable support to Irish business in developing exports to markets abroad. The Export Trade Council, which will be established shortly and which I will chair, will consider the overall programme of trade missions. It will also monitor implementation of the Government's Trade Strategy under which Japan has been identified as one of the priority markets. The Ambassador in Tokyo chairs a local market team which brings together the relevant State Agencies focussed on developing further our trading and investment links with Japan. The Government attaches great importance to developing our trade and economic links with all of our Asian partners. In this context, I hope to attend the annual meeting of Asia Pacific Ireland Business Forum (APIBF) in Seoul, Korea on 14 October 2011. While it will not be possible to schedule a full trade mission to Japan before the end of 2011, I hope to visit Tokyo en route to the APIBF meeting and to have a number of meetings there focussed on trade and economic issues.