AAIS was delighted to receive Deputy Prime Minister (An Tánaiste) and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation of the Republic of Ireland, Mrs Frances Fitzgerald TD, at the Seletar Aerospace Park on 25 September 2017. The visit was made as part of a high-level trade and investment mission by the Irish delegation to Singapore. The Tánaiste was joined by the Ambassador of Ireland to Singapore HE Geoffrey Keating, Secretary General of the Department of Business Enterprise & Innovation Dr Orlaigh Quinn, Enterprise Ireland CEO Julie Sinnamon and IDA Ireland’s Head of Growth Markets Eileen Sharpe.

  

As part of the visit programme, Mrs Fitzgerald chaired an Aerospace and Aviation sector roundtable between Singapore and Irish companies, hosted by AAIS Vice President Jeffrey Lam. Irish companies with a presence in Singapore including Eirtech, CAE and Aero Inspection, were some of the organisations that participated, alongside representatives from the AAIS membership. Speaking at the roundtable, the DPM said, “Trade missions such as this are vital to raise awareness of what Ireland can offer, both as a potential location for companies from the Asia-Pacific region and as a source of high-quality, innovative products and services. Following the UK’s decision to leave the EU, I am working closely with the agencies in my Department who have intensified their efforts on increasing the export market penetration and diversification of Irish companies into alternative markets.”

  

It was an engaging session learning from the experience of companies tapping the Asian market, with Singapore as their base. AAIS would like to thank all participants for their inputs and active interaction, as well as officials from Enterprise Ireland and the Embassy of Ireland in Singapore for reaching out to AAIS and co-organising the programme.