ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT ROBINSON ON THE LUNCHEON HOSTED BY AN BORD TRÁCHTÁLA AT HOTEL OKURA, TOKYO
ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT ROBINSON ON THE LUNCHEON HOSTED BY AN BORD TRÁCHTÁLA AT HOTEL OKURA, TOKYO ON FRIDAY, 24TH FEBRUARY, 1995.
I am very pleased to join you on the occasion of my State Visit to Japan. I welcome the opportunity which the visit provides to strengthen the practical partnership and co-operation between Ireland and Japan, which are central features of our bilateral relationship.
We in Ireland have considerable affection and admiration for the people of Japan. It was therefore with great sorrow that we witnessed the tragic loss of life and destruction brought by the Hanshin earthquake. On behalf of the people of Ireland I wish to extend my sincere sympathy to all those who have been bereaved, to the injured and to those made homeless. The unpredictability and terrible scale of this disaster has shocked people everywhere in the world.
Ireland is an island nation with a predominantly young, well-educated, enterprising people with an outward perspective. Over the past quarter century, Ireland has made the transition from a protected economy to a total commitment to open trade among nations.
Because of our relatively small domestic market - Ireland has a population of around 3.5 million - we depend heavily on exports to generate growth, develop industry, create jobs and raise living standards. Over the past twenty years, Ireland has performed well in all external trade. Our exports have increased almost twentyfold in value since 1974, and last year at IR£20 billion, accounted for almost 75% of Gross Domestic Product. Our dependence on external trade is greater than most other countries in the European Union and, proportionately, is six times greater than this great trading nation, Japan.
Fortunately, as a member and full partner in what is now the 15-nation European Union, Ireland has access to a European market of more than 370 million people. While three-quarters of our exports are sold in the single market of Europe, Irish exporters are actively building markets in many other locations around the globe.
Ireland's trading relationship with Japan has grown steadily over the years and Japan is now Ireland's eight largest trading partner. Since 1990, Ireland's exports to Japan have trebled, reflecting substantial year-by-year increases that have made Japan the fastest growing of our major trade markets.
In fact, this is only part of the picture: one of the big growth areas for Irish exporters at present is in supplying goods and materials to the many Japanese companies with manufacturing operations in the European Union.
For Irish exporters - and, in particular, the small and medium sized Irish companies - exporting to Japan is perceived in terms of exciting potential and complexity. Geographically, Ireland and Japan are about as far away from each other as any two countries can be. But distance alone is not the main challenge for Irish companies. Nor is it necessarily a matter of different language and cultural tradition.
The key fact is that, as we are all aware, the Japanese market is one of the most discerning and sophisticated in the world. It is the home of highly competitive industries and many products of international excellence. The exporter to Japan must be prepared to take the market very seriously, must be committed to quality, and must invest the time to understand the marketplace and its customers. Anyone who wants to succeed in Japan must be very good indeed.
Against this background, it is satisfying to note the increased number of Irish companies who are selling in Japan. Five years ago, there were 100 Irish exporters to Japan, last year, the figure was over 300.
The Irish Trade Board has had a presence in Tokyo for the past twenty-one years. It works closely with JETRO, the Japanese external trade organisation, with whom it has signed a co-operation agreement in order to ensure that there is the fullest Irish participation in the Japanese import expansion programme. The overall effect of this programme has been beneficial in helping to raise the awareness of Ireland in the Japanese market.
The Irish Trade Board also works with the European Union's gateway programme to Japan, which is designed to heighten awareness of European industry and European products among Japanese buyers and consumers and develop key market sectors.
Through the co-operation agreement with JETRO, it is intended to further strengthen Ireland's links with key Japanese buyers and create additional opportunities for Irish companies to have their products considered for the Japanese market by the relevant buyers.
In common with all trading nations, Ireland welcomes and fully supports the new world trading environment which is about to be ushered in by the recent GATT Agreement, and which will contribute significantly to the building of stronger trade relationships not just regionally but on a truly worldwide basis.
Japan has become an extremely important export market for Ireland. Despite geographic distance, marketplace differences and the perception of Japan as a highly competitive market that requires wholehearted commitment and considerable investment of time, Irish exporters to Japan have been increasing in numbers year by year, Irish sales to Japan make it one of the fastest growing of our international markets. In relative terms, Ireland's share of total Japanese imports compares favourably with other medium sized countries.
Because of Ireland's special historical and demographic situation we have for many years been to the fore among EU member States in the welcome and incentives we extend to inward investors. Over 1,000 foreign companies have chosen Ireland as their manufacturing and exporting base within the enlarging European market. Japan and Ireland can no longer compete with lowest labour cost producers. The challenge is therefore to have a skilled, educated and highly flexible workforce. Only such a workforce can develop and capitalise on the progression to more value added products and service related activities that the twenty first century will demand.
In Ireland we have a reputation for making people feel welcome. I hope that, as I have enjoyed the wonderful experience of visiting your country, you will, for business or pleasure take the opportunity to visit Ireland and experience our beautiful country at first hand. Ireland's unique unspoilt natural beauty together with the vibrant literary and musical heritage and traditional reputation for friendliness and hospitality of the Irish people has always attracted visitors, including recently more and more Japanese visitors. Please feel welcome to join them.
Thank you ladies and gentlemen.