Chamber hosts visit of Japanese Ambassador

County Wexford Chamber

County Wexford Chamber was honoured to co-host the visit of Japanese Ambassador, H.E. Norio Maruyama, with The Hatch Lab, Gorey, on May 16.

As well as viewing the facilities and meeting some businesses in the M11 Business Campus, the Ambassador also met businesspeople from across Wexford with an interest in or trading with Japan.

Japan-Ireland trade

Some interesting facts highlighted by the Ambassador:

  • There are 122 Japanese companies located in Ireland
  • In Wexford, Sumitomo Electric Industries, along with Siemens Energy, are working on the interconnector cable to link the power markets of Ireland and the UK
  • The two-way trade of goods and services between Ireland & Japan is €23.35 billion
  • Japan is the largest source of foreign direct investment into Ireland from the Asia-Pacific region
  • Per capita, Ireland has the highest number of people learning the Japanese language in the EU

Opportunity to foster relationships

The visit was a valuable opportunity to foster relationships between our two countries and was also attended by Chamber President, Lorcan Kinsella, and CEO Paula Roche, and John O’Connor, Manager of The Hatch Lab. Sincere thanks to Senator Malcolm Byrne who facilitated the Ambassador’s visit to North Wexford.

On behalf of County Wexford Chamber, Lorcan Kinsella and Paula Roche presented the Ambassador with an original painting of the iconic Hook Head, painted by artist Nikki Purcell and sourced from The Gaslamp Gallery.