His Majesty King Letsie III of Lesotho arrived in Cork today for the start of a three-day official visit to Ireland. During his visit, the King, who is accompanied by Her Majesty Queen Masenate Mohato Seesion, will meet with President Higgins, members of the Government, NGOs and business leaders (an outline of the programme is appended).
Following their arrival in Cork this morning, the royal couple will travel to Kildare where they will tour the Newbridge Silver Factory and Museum.
Tomorrow, President Higgins and Mrs. Sabina Higgins, will host a lunch for the King and Queen at Áras an Uachtaráin. The King and Queen will also visit Portmarnock Community School in Dublin and tour the headquarters fo Country Crest and Eirgrid in Dublin. Their visit will conclude on Tuesday with a visit to the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin.
The Minister for Trade and Development, Joe Costello T.D., will be meeting King Letsie III tomorrow afternoon and will discuss Ireland’s development partnership with Lesotho and efforts to build greater trade links between the two countries. Ireland has a long-established development partnership with Lesotho, which is focused on improving access to education and treatment for HIV and AIDS.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Minister Costello said:
“Ireland and Lesotho have built strong connections over the last century. I am proud of the contribution made there by our missionaries, development workers and business people.
Our development assistance to Lesotho is focused on the most vulnerable communities. Ireland has contributed to a substantial increase in the number of children attending school and supported thousands of poor people in the most remote areas to access treatment for HIV and AIDS.
I am determined to maintain our commitment to development cooperation, but also to build our economic and trade links. Ireland recognises the great potential of Lesotho, where the annual economic growth rate is now between 5% and 6%.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Africa Strategy sets out how Ireland is engaging more coherently with Africa, – economically, politically and through our aid programme.”
Minister Costello will host a dinner for King Letsie III and Queen Masenate Mohato Seeiso in Iveagh House following their meeting tomorrow.
Press Office
20 May 2012
For further information, please contact Clare Brosnan, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on 087-6837205, or to request an interview with Minister Costello, please contact Fionnuala Quinlan, Irish Aid, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on 087-9099975.
To facilitate the media, pooled photographs of the visit will be provided to photo-desks. Contact Lafayette Photography 01-4295740.
Outline Programme:
Sunday, 20 May
11.00 Arrival, Cork Airport
Greeted by: Minister Sean Sherlock T.D.
Morning private
PM Visit to Newbridge Silverware
Monday, 21 May
AM Visit to Country Crest, Lusk, Co. Dublin (Agribusiness)
Escorted on tour of production facilities
Visit to Portmarnock Community School, Co. Dublin
PM Meeting with President, Michael D. Higgins, Áras an Uachtaráin
Visit to Eirgrid Control Centre, Dublin
Greeted by Minister Pat Rabbitte
Meeting with the Minister for Trade and Development, Joe Costello T.D., Iveagh House.
Tuesday, 22 May
10.00 Visit to the Guiness Storehouse
Greeted by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr. Andrew Montague
Departure
Notes to editors:
The official visit to Ireland of His Majesty King Letsie III of Lesotho takes place from Sunday 20th until Tuesday 22nd May. The royal couple will stay at Farmleigh House.
Ireland’s longest running bilateral aid programme was established in Lesotho in 1975. In 2012, the total Irish Aid budget for Lesotho is €8.9million.
Lesotho is currently ranked at 160 out of 187 countries on the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Index. More than half of the population live below the national income poverty line.
The Africa Strategy: ‘Ireland and Africa: Our partnership with a changing continent’ was launched by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in September 2011 to set out opportunities for enhanced trade and political relations. To read the Africa Strategy, visit http://www.dfa.ie/uploads/documents/DCD/strategy_paper2.pdf