Sat Mar 08 16:02:09 UTC 2025: ## India and Ireland Forge Closer Economic Ties with New Joint Commission

**Dublin, Ireland – March 8, 2025** – India and Ireland have agreed to establish a Joint Economic Commission (JEC) to boost bilateral trade and cooperation on global economic issues. The announcement follows a meeting between Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Ireland’s Foreign Minister and Tánaiste Simon Harris in Dublin.

The JEC, which will convene biannually at the senior official level, aims to enhance collaboration in areas such as trade, investment, and technology. A formal agreement is expected to be signed later this year. This development comes shortly after India and the European Union (of which Ireland is a member) agreed to finalize their long-awaited Bilateral Trade Agreement by the end of 2025.

Ministers Jaishankar and Harris discussed a wide range of issues, including expanding collaboration in higher education, cybersecurity, AI, fintech, and semiconductors – a sector where Ireland houses almost half of the world’s top 30 semiconductor companies by revenue. Current bilateral trade between the two countries stands at approximately €16 billion (US$17.33 billion).

The Irish Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted the JEC as a mechanism to strengthen existing ties and improve understanding of each nation’s economic priorities. Minister Harris also noted discussions on India-EU relations and global issues, including the war in Ukraine, the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific region, and climate change.

Minister Jaishankar’s two-day visit, the first by an Indian Foreign Minister to Ireland in a decade, underscores the growing relationship between the two nations. He emphasized the historical connection between India and Ireland, noting Ireland’s unique support for India’s independence movement. A diplomatic exchange program, involving annual visits by diplomats from both countries, was also announced. The number of Indian students in Ireland has significantly increased in recent years, from approximately 700 in 2013 to nearly 7,000 in 2023. Furthermore, Ireland’s Indian immigrant population has seen a 170% growth since 2016. A senior Irish delegation, led by Education Minister James Lawless, is expected to visit India later this month.

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