Mr. Ruair? de B?rca:

It is interesting the meeting is taking place today because the eighth Africa Ireland Economic Forum is taking place in the RDS. It is the first we have had since the Covid-19 pandemic, and it brings together Irish and African business. It is an opportunity for Irish business to begin to situate itself to take advantage of the growth opportunity that is Africa. Africa will be the most populous continent in the world by 2050, and that is an opportunity for Ireland and Irish companies.

One of our actions with the aid programme is putting together the kind of strategic infrastructure that enables those economies to grow as sustainably as possible with the right kinds of institutions so Ireland and others can have effective trading and investment relationships. We see that already with a country like South Africa, where we have that fully mature relationship. Ireland is a significant investor in South Africa and that country is a significant investor in Ireland.