11th December 2017
The Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, Pat Breen TD, will attend the 11th World Trade Organisation (WTO) Conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina from the 10th to the 13th December.
The Ministerial Conference, which is attended by trade ministers and other senior officials from the organization’s 164 members, is the highest decision-making body of the WTO and meets every two years.
Speaking before his departure, Minister Breen stated “I look forward to leading the Irish delegation to the WTO Ministerial Conference. I hope that all countries will engage in a constructive spirit in the negotiations to achieve a positive and substantive outcome. Ireland, as a member of the EU, has been actively involved in the preparations for the Conference and has been advocating for a balanced outcome which would address a range of pressing issues including fisheries subsidies, e-commerce and transparency of regulatory measures for the benefit of SMEs.”
The Minister will address the Conference on Monday 11th December and will emphasise Ireland’s continued strong support for the international multilateral rules based trading system and the role of the WTO, in line with Ireland’s trade strategy ‘Ireland Connected’. He will also highlight Ireland’s position as one of the world’s most open, export-based economies, which depends on open access to international markets for sustainable and continued economic growth.
Export growth in Ireland has been exceptionally strong in recent years, reaching a new record level of €259 billion last year. Ireland’s focus remains on competing, innovating and diversifying trade and investment, particularly in light of the economic challenges presented by Brexit. In August, the Government announced plans to double Ireland’s global footprint by 2025 which will further expand our investment and trade footprint in foreign markets through the provision of increased resources for diplomatic missions and state agency offices overseas.
Minister Breen will also undertake a range of other commitments during his visit including attending the EU Foreign Affairs Council, which will be held on the margins of the Conference, holding bilateral meetings with other ministers, and meeting with members of the Irish business community in Argentina.
ENDS
For further information please contact Press Office, D/Business, Enterprise and Innovation ph. 6312200 or press.office@dbei.gov.ie
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