Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 13 Jun 2000

Vol. 521 No. 1

Written Answers. - Asia Pacific Strategy Committee.

David Stanton

Ceist:

108 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will give details of the work of the Asia Pacific strategy committee; the number of times it has met; its future plans; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16724/00]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. T. Kitt)

The Asia Pacific strategy committee was established following the Government's endorsement of the Asia strategy group report in July 1999. The committee is intended to act as a focal point in the development of foreign earnings in Asia, and it is made up of officials from relevant Departments and agencies and representatives of the private sector.

The terms of reference for the Asia Pacific strategy committee are as follows: to oversee the implementation of the Government's Asia strategy as set out in the report of the Asia strategy group and endorsed by the Government on 21 July 1999, to establish a programme to raise awareness of Ireland with key decision makers in Asia and to monitor-oversee its implementation; and to report to the foreign earnings committee and to report to Government, annually on progress made in implementing the strategy.

The committee has met twice – on 27 January 2000 and 29 March 2000 – and a further meeting is scheduled for 21 June 2000. Steps have already been taken to implement some of the key priorities of the Asia report.

The Government has agreed to increase Ireland's diplomatic and promotional presence in the region. A new Irish embassy is opening in Singapore and new consulates general in Sydney and Shanghai have already opened. Additional resources are being deployed by the Department of Foreign Affairs to enhance its representation in Ireland House Tokyo and Ireland House Beijing.

Projects designed to raise awareness of Ireland with key decision makers in Asia have been examined and approved by the committee. These include the production of promotional material – videos and brochures – in the appropriate languages for distribution in Asia, a pilot study into the development of a database of key decision makers, a forum to be held in Ireland for companies trading and investing in Asian markets and a special colour supplement in the Export Link magazine giving information on trade between Ireland and Asia. Those responsible for each project are required to implement them as quickly as possible.

At its next meeting the committee plans to review the projects already embarked upon and to consider proposals to be implemented in 2001.