The Japan Times Monday, DeceMber 2, 2013 5 Irish prime minister’s visit revitalizing a long-standing friendship John Neary er of contact lenses into Japan. ambassador of irelaNd Ireland continues to have a strong trading relationship with This week’s visit to Japan by Ire- Japan. In 2012, our exports to land’s Prime Minister Enda Ken- Japan in manufactured goods ny is the culmination of a year of grew by 20.5 percent to approxi- high-level bilat- mately 2.1 billion euros and Ja- eral exchanges pan-bound trade in internation- unprecedented al services grew by 79 percent to in the history of 2.7 billion euros. links between In Ireland, as in Japan, one of Ireland and Ja- our focus areas for future growth pan. In June, we is research, development and in- were honored novation, and this visit includes by a visit by a strong focus on this area. by Prime Minister Shinzo abe, the encouraging intensive collabo- first by a serving prime minister ration between universities, from Japan, and, a month earlier, research institutions and busi- we welcomed MeXT Minister nesses around Ireland, span- Hakubun Shimomura. ning fields as diverse as com- In the other direction, we munications, silver-tech and have had three ministers com- food research, we are building ing from Ireland to Japan this an environment where we can year. all of them have brought tackle the knowledge needs of the same message, which is our modern world, and at the that, after a period of econom- same time deliver vital jobs and ic hardship resulting from the prosperity. Science Foundation worldwide financial crisis, the Ireland (www.sfi.ie) has recently Prime Minister of Ireland Enda Kenny Irish economy has recovered, singled out Japan for its Inter- and we are now better pre- national Strategic cooperation Profile of Taoiseach Enda Kenny pared than ever to take on the award, a program that provides challenges and opportunities guaranteed funding to develop born april 24, 1951, in County mayo, enda Kenny studied at st. that present themselves in this links in this field over the com- Patrick’s College of education in dublin and University College globalized world. economic ing two years. Galway. growth has been restored, the Ireland enjoys a close and after briefly working as an elementary school teacher, Kenny public finances have been put friendly relationship with Japan, entered politics in 1975. in order, the banking sector has River of life: The Irish capital Dublin sits at the mouth of the River Liffey near the midpoint of Ireland’s east coast. embassy of irelaNd based on shared values, and a following the death of his father, Henry Kenny, who was a been restructured and employ- common outlook on matters member of the fine Gael party and a parliamentary secretary in ment is rising again. new phase with positive indica- ening links with Japan in this Ireland enjoying worldwide suc- Japanese-Irish collaborations in of importance to the security the government, enda Kenny was elected as a member of dail This positive outlook has tors at many levels. We feel that sector. cess in niche applications, such this field were announced this and well-being of our people. eireann (the irish National Parliament) in 1975. He has been re- been confirmed by the review the timing is opportune to take Ireland is known as a global as Corvil, which recently tied up year. one of them is focused We respect the role of interna- elected in 12 successive general elections ever since. missions carried out by the Eu- a fresh look at the long-standing IcT, life science and financial with the Japan Exchange Group on the renewable energy sector, tional organizations in promot- Kenny was appointed a member of the New ireland forum ropean Union and the Interna- relationship between our two services base. With Ireland’s to enhance service for clients looking at measuring and fore- ing world peace and we actively from 1980 to 1984, and minister of state at the department of tional Monetary Fund over the countries, which has blossomed young and well-educated here. casting patterns of output and participate, jointly in some education and labour in 1986. last two years, following the last since the establishment of diplo- workforce, and our innovation- Household names such as consumption of natural energy cases, in the essential work of after the 1987 general election, Kenny was on the opposition of which the government an- matic ties over 50 years ago. friendly business environment, Microsoft, Intel, Facebook, from wind sources. advancing the well-being of de- benches for seven years, during which he served as fine Gael’s nounced that Ireland will exit We also welcome this week we continue to attract top-tier Twitter and LinkedIn all have a on the financial services side, veloping nations. chief whip from 1991 to 1994. the EU-IMF program this month Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, foreign investors to our shores. presence in Ireland, and use it Ireland welcomed significant our growing cooperation in in 1994, a fine Gael-labour Party-democratic left “rainbow without requiring any further Food and the Marine Simon Co- IcT represents 10 percent of as a hub for servicing markets Japanese investments this year the business and research ar- Coalition” came to power. Under Taoiseach (Prime minister of support. veney Td, who with a delegation our GdP and comprises one of worldwide. A recent exciting de- in key areas of fund administra- eas, which will be significantly ireland) John bruton, Kenny joined the Cabinet and was on this important and of Ireland’s leading companies our leading exports to Japan. velopment is the strengthening tion and aircraft leasing. We are advanced over the span of this appointed minister for trade and tourism. during his tenure groundbreaking visit by Taoise- in food and food research, will numerous indigenous software of our know-how in ‘‘big data one of the global leaders in the visit, heralds a step change in from 1994 to 1997, ireland’s tourism business and international ach Kenny, Japan, too, is in a explore opportunities for deep- enterprises have grown up in management’’ and a number of latter area, with over 50 percent our continuously improving trade position grew significantly. as minister, he chaired the of the world’s fleet of leased relations. european Union Council of Trade ministers during ireland’s six- aircraft being managed from The cultural connections month presidency of the european Council in 1996. in the same Ireland, with a portfolio value between Ireland and Japan year, he co-chaired the round of the World Trade organization of over 80 billion euros. Ireland are strong and vibrant. There talks. administers over 2.5 trillion eu- is an affinity between our two in June 2002, he became leader of fine Gael. in march 2006, ros in funds and administers peoples that is most easily ex- Kenny was elected vice president of the european People’s over 40 percent of the world’s pressed through culture and Party, the largest european political group to which fine Gael is hedge funds. that helps to bridge the huge affiliated. In life sciences, nine out of physical distance between our at the 2011 general election, fine Gael won 76 seats, the the top 10 pharmaceutical com- two countries. We hope that most in its 78-year history, becoming the largest party in panies have significant manu- Prime Minister Kenny’s visit this parliament for the first time. on march 9, 2011, Kenny was facturing operations in Ireland. week will also bring Ireland and elected as Taoiseach, fine Gael’s first Taoiseach since John Ireland is one of the world’s larg- Japan closer so that we can look bruton from 1994 to 1997. est manufacturers and exporters forward to a more intensive and Kenny is married to dubliner fionnuala o’Kelly and has three of stents, catheters and contact rewarding relationship in the children. lenses, and is the biggest export- future. Pm’s major agenda in Japan Arts and music: (Above) People enjoy music at an Irish pub. Taoiseach Enda Kenny is paying — building Strategic Partner- Traditional Irish music remains vibrant today despite an official working visit to Japan ships,” and attend a meeting globalizing cultural forces. (Right) In July each year, the Galway through Dec. 5. of representatives of the Japan Arts Festival, in Ireland’s West Region, is an international His visit is in response to the Meat Traders association and celebration of the performing and visual arts, and an important invitation of Prime Minister the Irish beef industry. He will showcase for Irish arts. embassy of irelaNd Shinzo abe, whose visit to Ire- also attend an event organized land in June was the first by a by financial services companies serving Japanese prime minister. as well as a seminar on green Taoiseach Kenny will pay a energy hosted by the Japan Ex- food: ireland’s largest indigenous industry courtesy call on crown Prince ternal Trade Organization. naruhito on Dec. 2. on the same date, Kenny will Introduction industries. tion on the periphery of Europe. on the same date, Kenny will give a keynote speech titled “Ire- Ireland’s Minister for agricul- over the course of the five- an island one-fifth the size of have a summit with Prime Min- land and Japan: a Partnership ture, Food and the Marine Si- day visit to Japan more than 20 Japan in land mass with barely ister Abe, which will be followed for Prosperity and Growth” at the mon coveney TD is in Japan representatives from some of 3 percent of the population, by a news conference.