By CGTN’s Laura Luo
Brexit will push Ireland to diversify its trade structure, and accelerate its ongoing shift towards Asia. That’s according to Ambassador of Ireland to China and Mongolia Paul Kavanagh at 2017 Green Company Summit. Over 100 foreign guests from nine countries attended the summit, including ambassadors from Canada, Japan, India and Ireland.
CGTN’s Laura Luo speaks to Ambassador of Ireland to China and Mongolia Paul Kavanagh. /CGTN Photo
Kavanagh said Ireland was disappointed about the result of the Brexit vote, but stays positive on opportunities arisen after Britain leaves the EU. Ireland will be the only country that has English as its mother tongue and has a common law system, after Brexit.
That gives it a chance to become a gateway city for investors from China and the US for access to the EU single market. “Ireland is an ideal partner for China in Europe,” Kavanagh said.
As Ireland has shown the strongest economic growth rate within EU countries in the past three years, and Sino-Irish trade is growing faster than China’s trade with any other EU member country, Kavanagh called for a deeper business relationship with Chinese entrepreneurs during the conference.
“We are very close now,” Kavanagh said, since Irish agri-food exports to China have increased from some 240 million Euros in 2012 to 780 million Euros in 2016, a three-fold increase. And Ireland is one of only four EU countries having a trade surplus with China.
Ireland-China two way trade in goods & services. /Embassy of Ireland in China Photo
Last Thursday, Ireland announced a significant step in the country's live crab exports to China following a visit by a Chinese delegation. The two countries agreed to an export certificates which will permit the resumption of crab exports to the Chinese market.
The ambassador is confident that Irish food is highly competitive, and believes the latest certificate will mean not only a permission of export, but also a “permission” of potential deeper trade relationship.
“In order to export, you have to be competitive. And it is significant to introduce innovation Ireland, education Ireland, and top quality/ safe food Ireland,” said Kavanagh.
CGTN’s Laura Luo speaks to Ambassador of Ireland to China and Mongolia Paul Kavanagh. /CGTN Photo
Meanwhile, Ireland was the fourth largest destination in the EU for inward Chinese investment, attracting Chinese R&D investment into Ireland in food science, food safety systems.
As Ireland is going to meet priorities of China’s 13th Five-Year Plan in various topics, such as entrepreneurship, technology, higher education, high-end services and food, the Ambassador is optimistic about the more trade cooperation between China and Ireland.
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