Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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440. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when he last met the Irish Ambassador to Japan, Ms Anne Barrington; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4281/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I can inform the Deputy that I last met the Irish Ambassador to Japan, Ms Anne Barrington, on 27 January 2016.

We had a useful, wide-ranging discussion on the Ireland-Japan bilateral relationship including on preparations for the 60th Anniversary of diplomatic relations which will occur in 2017.

The priority Ireland attaches to the relationship with Japan is reflected in the Joint Declaration issued by the Taoiseach and Prime Minister Abe following their Summit meeting in Tokyo in December 2013 and satisfactory progress is being made in the areas identified for enhanced cooperation between the two countries on that occasion.

Ambassador Barrington and I focused in particular on how we could develop our economic relationship with Japan in the coming years. Japan is the third largest economy in the world, and is a significant source of Foreign Direct Investment into Ireland and the largest in Asia; there are more than 50 Japanese companies with a presence in Ireland, 28 of which are IDA assisted, making Japan the 6th largest contributor to FDI by employment (over 3,200) in assisted companies.

Ireland also has a strong trading relationship with Japan which has been growing in importance in recent years to the extent that Japan was our 11th largest trading partner in 2014. In 2014, exports in merchandise trade were €1.761 billion and imports were €1.760 billion. The equivalent merchandise trade figures for 2013 were exports of €1.7 billion and imports of €1.04 billion. In 2014, exports in services to Japan were €2.663 billion, while imports were €0.945 billion. In 2013 services exports were €2.45 billion and imports were €0.84 billion. Overall, Ireland has a trade surplus with Japan.