The IJCC was delighted to hear from the Chargé d’Affaires, Tim Harrington at an IJCC Breakfast Briefing yesterday.

He gave us a briefing on the growth of Ireland’s economy, the challenges in Brexit and its impact to the global trading system as well as concept of “Global Ireland– Ireland’s Global Footprint to 2025” followed by an open discussion among the guests. Mr. Tim Harrington commented, “As the leading Irish business organisation in Japan the IJCC is a very effective force in promoting the interests of Ireland and of Irish businesses in Japan. I am very grateful to those individuals and companies who give so generously of their time to the Chamber. “

Please find full message from Chargé d’Affaires Tim Harrington below.

“I was delighted to host a meeting of the Ireland-Japan Chamber of Commerce in the residence to brief the Chamber on some key economic and political developments effecting Ireland and also to have a broader conversation on the Ireland/Japan relationship.   The IJCC was also briefed on the state of play of the development of the new Ireland House in Tokyo and on preparations for Ireland’s involvement in Rugby World Cup 2019.

I arrived in Japan a little over a month ago and while I have met members of the IJCC individually this was my first formal meeting with the Chamber.  As the leading Irish business organisation in Japan the IJCC is a very effective force in promoting the interests of Ireland and of Irish businesses in Japan.   I am very grateful to those individuals and companies who give so generously of their time to the Chamber. 

I was pleased to be able to brief Chamber that Ireland’s economy is going from strength to strength. We are forecast to have 5.6% growth in GDP this year and 4% growth in 2019.  This prosperity is being translated into job creation – the unemployment rate is 5.8% and is forecast to fall to 4.5% in 2019.  Ireland is also planning for the future.  By 2040 there will be an extra one million people living in Ireland and 660,000 more people at work.  In February the Government unveiled a €116 billion plan – Project 2040 – to build the infrastructure that a growing country need. 

There are challenges on the horizon, not least the UK’s imminent exit from the EU and the possibility of disruption to the global trading system.   However, I was pleased to be able to tell the Chamber that support for membership of the European Union is running at over 90% among the public in Ireland.  As a country we remain firmly committed to the EU and to working together with our fellow Member States to meet the challenges of the 21st Century. 

I was also able to brief the Chamber on the launch earlier this month by the Government of “Global Ireland – Ireland’s Global Footprint to 2025”, the Government’s initiative to double the scope and impact of Ireland’s global footprint in the period to 2025.   It represents the most ambitious renewal and expansion of Ireland’s international presence ever undertaken in terms of diplomacy, culture, business, overseas aid, tourism and trade.  Global Ireland 2025 will support efforts to grow and diversify export markets, inward investment and tourism.   Under the initiative up to 26 new diplomatic missions (Embassies and Consulates) will be opened.   Ireland’s presence in the Asia-Pacific region, will be expanded, including a new flagship “Ireland House” in Tokyo which will be a hub for diplomacy, trade, business and cultural promotion. 

The Chamber is an invaluable resource for Ireland in Japan and an excellent way to build connections between Irish people living and doing business in Japan and Japanese companies interested in Ireland. 

My best wishes to the IJCC and to its President, Mr Paul Gilsenan.

Tim Harrington

Chargé d’Affaires ”