Taoiseach Eyes Japan Ties as US Trade Doubts Loom Over Next Budget
It’s only been 3 years since Miho Martin last visited Tokyo or met with a Japanese prime minister. With the United States no longer as predictable as it once was, Ireland is looking to make new friends. The tishuk is the third member of the government to visit Japan in just over a month. Six different ministers are making the trip this year as well as anus delegation. The hope is that Japan, the world’s third biggest economy, but only the 12th biggest export market for Ireland, will buy more Irish produce. But that wasn’t the only item on the agenda.
They were they were well briefed on the Irish situation uh asking you know meet the situation in terms of the protection of subc cables in terms of cyber security uh and the steps we were taking to try and deal with those challenges.
After lunch of Wagyu beef and cannon washed down with a glass of Guinness, it was off to Ireland House, the new Irish embassy. 3 years ago, Miho Martin was here to turn the sod. Today it was to cut the ribbon in the company of her imperial highness, Princess Takamado and Japan’s foreign minister, Hizyaki Fuji. Three years in the planning and then another three years in the building. A 21 million euro Ireland house in Tokyo is the most expensive capital project ever undertaken by an Irish government off the island. But it’s hoped that this template could be used by other embassies and other Irish officials around the world. The new building houses not just the embassy, but representatives from Borvia, Enterprise Ireland, and the IDA. The model of having all those agencies working together under one roof. A model officially named Team Ireland is now being replicated at other embassies across the world. But the Japanese building is the first to have been customdesigned and built for the purpose.
We’re standing here in the courtyard space at the very heart of the project which brings light in and around the interior of the building and allows views across through the spaces. So, it’s very active. Um, you know, it’s really good for culture, for business, for arts, the community in Japan to come together and, uh, I suppose sell Ireland, uh, in this part of the, uh, Far East.
The building also houses a cultural library where the public can access Irish literature and musical recordings and an exhibition space that’s being used for offshoot events for Expo 2025 taking place in Aaka, which the Tishuk is due to visit tomorrow. Gavin Riley, Virgin Media News, Tokyo.
Micheál Martin warns EU-US trade uncertainty could impact Ireland’s next Budget.
On a trade mission to Japan, he opened ‘Ireland House’ in Tokyo which is part of efforts to boost exports as the US becomes less predictable.
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