merrion street

- 36 companies participating in visit covering Riyadh, Abu Dhabi & Dubai

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, is in Abu Dhabi today (Monday) on the second day of a three-day visit to the Gulf region, leading an Enterprise Ireland trade mission.

Yesterday, in Riyadh, Minister Flanagan held a series of bilateral meetings, with Saudi Arabia's Minister for Commerce and Investments, Dr. Majid Bin Abdullah al Qassabi, and with the country's Ministers of State for Foreign Affairs and Education.

The Minister also participated in a number of commercial events to support Irish companies.

Minister Flanagan said:

"My meetings in Saudi Arabia touched on a range of regional issues, including the stalled Middle East Peace Process, the conflicts in Yemen and in Syria and the humanitarian impact of these conflicts on civilians in both countries. These are issues of concern to the Irish people.

"With the Minister of State for Education, I had an opportunity to discuss the possibility of increasing the number of Saudi students coming to study in Ireland's Universities and Institutes of Technology around the country.

"I welcome the opportunity to see first rate Irish companies at work, and to support them in their efforts to secure new business and so support jobs at home.

"My visit is timely as it offers an opportunity to bring clear messages to important partners in the Gulf about Ireland's position in the wake of the U.K. vote to leave the European Union. I made clear that Ireland will remain a strong and active member of the Union".

Today, in Abu Dhabi, the Minister will meet with the UAE's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and with the country's Education Minister, Hussain Ibrahim al Hammadi. He will also meet with Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.