Malcolm Byrne
Question:270. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline the plans to expand Ireland's diplomatic and trade footprint in Latin America. [71038/25]
View answerThursday, 11 December 2025
Questions (270)
Written answers
There has been a significant step-up in recent years of Ireland's diplomatic and trade presence within the thirty-three countries across Latin America, Central America and the Caribbean guided by the Global Ireland Strategy and ambitious regional 'Global Ireland Strategy for Latin America and the Caribbean to 2025'. The implementation of the global and regional strategies includes strategic objectives across the areas of political engagement, trade and economic relations, culture, sustainable development goals and people to people links.
In Latin America, this work has included the opening of two new Embassies in Santiago de Chile and Bogotá in 2019, and Offices for Central America, and the Caribbean in 2021 and 2024 respectively. We have also deepened our presence across Ireland's six diplomatic Missions in Latin America to include a number of regional roles such as a regional Agriculture and Cultural Attaché based in Mexico City, and a regional Garda Liaison Officer based in Bogotá. This increase in presence and resources to the region has already delivered a marked enhancement in our engagements, strengthening relationships developed at official and political level.
Under the Global Ireland Strategy for Latin America and the Caribbean 2022 to 2025, Ireland has deepened our economic and trade relations across Latin America. One of the five key objectives of the Strategy is to commit to pursuing mutually beneficial economic partnerships across the region.
To date, Ireland has developed new trade initiatives, including the inaugural Latin America and Caribbean Business and Economic Forum which occurred in November 2023, with 250 participants including Irish and Latin American and Caribbean Ministers, trade agencies and private sector representatives. The second iteration of the Forum is due to be held in May 2026 in Dublin.
In tandem, the Government Action Plan on Market Diversification commits to continue investment in Ireland’s trading relationships in new and emerging markets, including Latin America, and avail of opportunities they offer to businesses in Ireland.
My Department, working closely with relevant Government Departments and State Agencies, will continue to implement Ireland’s strategic aims regionally in the context of the successor to the Global Ireland Strategy agreed in the Programme for Government.