First ever visit of Taoiseach to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The Taoiseach Mr. Bertie Ahern T.D. will make official visits next week to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to the United Arab Emirates.  The Taoiseach will lead one of the largest trade missions ever from Ireland involving 114 companies and which is being co-ordinated by Enterprise Ireland.

The visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be the first ever of a serving Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister).  The Taoiseach will be accompanied on the visits by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Micheál Martin T.D.; Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin T.D.; and the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan T.D.

The visits will provide an opportunity to further develop bilateral relations with both the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and to promote Irish economic links with the region.

The trade mission is an all-Ireland event, and includes representatives from over 20 companies in Northern Ireland reflecting the increasing co-operation among companies and business organisations across the island of Ireland.

This visit represents an opportunity to recognise the growing trade links between Ireland and the region.  The close relationship between Ireland and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates puts Irish business in prime position to contribute to, and benefit from, the impressive pace of economic development in the region. 

Irish companies are winning business in a number of key areas.  These include; information technology and telecoms software; healthcare and pharmaceuticals; third level education services; utilities, power and construction industries; and e-learning and e-Government applications.

At a political level, the Taoiseach will meet with HRH Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and with the President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheihk Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.  He will also meet with His Highness Sheihk Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the Ruler of Dubai.  During the course of the visit, the Taoiseach will deliver a keynote speech on the political situation in the Middle East at the King Faisal Foundation in Riyadh.

ENDS