Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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34. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the plans he has to increase trade between Ireland and Mongolia following the recent visit of Minister of State, Costello; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23189/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Minister of State with responsibility for trade and development Joe Costello, TD, visited Mongolia from 28 to29 April, becoming the first Irish Minister to visit the country. He also had a series of bilateral engagements, including meeting the Foreign Minister of Mongolia, Luvsanvandan Bold, Irish business people resident in Ulaanbaatar, representatives of a number of Mongolian Government Ministries and a leading mobile internet and telephony company which utilises the services of an Irish technology company. During his meetings, the Minister of State outlined the Irish Government’s work to restore fiscal sustainability, return the country to economic growth and provide employment and training opportunities. He pointed to the key role of exports in driving Ireland’s growth and prosperity and said the Government was working hard to facilitate and encourage trade and investment links with countries such as Mongolia.

Both sides stressed the importance of developing trade links and said they were particularly keen to work in areas such as agriculture and agri-services, pharmaceuticals, education and financial services. The Minister of State said he would welcome a trade visit from Mongolia and added that the Irish embassy in Beijing and the Enterprise Ireland office there would engage in further follow-up work on areas of interest.

Deputy Costello also visited a project in Ulaanbaatar run by the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation, which provides accommodation and support for vulnerable children and noted that Mongolia still faces many developmental challenges.