Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 74: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will be leading any trade missions to Japan or China this year; his plans to increase trade to Japan and China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19593/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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As the Deputy will be aware, from my answers to his Parliamentary Question no. 105 on 5 July 2011 and Parliamentary Question no. 72 on 28 June 2011, 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 and China have been identified as priority markets.

The Ambassadors in Tokyo and Beijing chair local market teams which bring together the relevant State Agencies focussed on developing further our trading and investment links in those countries. Ireland's trade with China is developing strongly – exports to China in 2010 increased by 7.5% on the previous year. Exports to China from the indigenous Irish enterprise sector have increased by 66% since 2007 until 2010. In the last six years, the number of Irish companies who have established permanent presences in China has increased from some 40 to 127. Japan was Ireland's 11th largest merchandise trading partner in 2010, with total merchandise trade that year worth €2.5bn and trade in services in 2009 valued at €1.3bn. Furthermore over 40 Japanese companies have a presence in Ireland employing over 2,500 people.

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 the 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.

The Taoiseach hopes to lead a Trade Mission to China later this year and contact is continuing, including through our Embassy in Beijing, to arrange mutually acceptable dates. China is also one of a number of countries with which Ireland has a Joint Economic Commission. The last meeting of the JEC took place in Beijing last October and provided an opportunity for intensive bilateral discussions on a range of issues that have the potential to deepen our economic engagement. The next meeting of the JEC with China is due to take place in Dublin in 2012.