Indian prime minister Narendra Modi has sought Ireland’s support for his country’s campaign to secure a permanent place on the United Nations Security Council.
On a visit to Ireland on Wednesday - the first by an Indian leader in almost 60 years - Mr Modi spoke of “strong bonds of affinity” between the two counties and said he wanted to strengthen economic ties.
“We can be your anchor in Asia,” he told Taoiseach Enda Kenny after a meeting at Government Buildings in Dublin. “Similarly, for India, I see Ireland as a vital gateway to Europe and a bridge across the Atlantic.”
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Mr Modi, the first Indian prime minister to visit Ireland since Jawaharlal Nehru in 1956, said he had asked Mr Kenny for Irish support for India’s long-running effort to secure a permanent seat on a reformed UN security council.
Mr Kenny said any changes to the security council should “recognise the geo-political realities of massive countries with powerbases like India” but should not “diminish the opportunity of small countries” to sit on the council.
Bilateral trade
The two sides discussed international issues such as terrorism and migration, but bilateral trade was the focus of the discussions.
Indigenous Irish exports to India were worth more than €55 million last year, up from €34 million in 2012, and both sides see potential for more business.
Mr Modi said technology, pharmaceuticals and agriculture were key areas for growth and said the imminent extension of air routes between the two countries would help.
“Our discussion underlined the importance of closer co-operation between countries like India and Ireland, which share democratic values and are consistent advocates of international peace and stability,” he said.
Mr Modi presented Mr Kenny with reproductions of a selection of manuscripts and archival papers relating to two Irish officials, Thomas Oldham and Sir George Abraham Grierson, in recognition of their contribution to Indian administration.
Mr Oldham was involved in founding the Geological Survey of India while Mr Grierson, a civil servant and philologist, conducted the first linguistic survey of India, published between 1903 and 1928.
The separation of Hindi into western and eastern dialect zones is the direct result of Grierson’s classification efforts.
Handcrafted piece
Mr Kenny was also given a specially handcrafted piece of silver, marble and sandstone rock that “imagines the Irish symbol of shamrock as a votive candle-stand”, according to the prime minister’s office.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Kenny said it was “an honour and a privilege” to receive his Indian counterpart and stressed the connections between the two states.
He said there were “real opportunities” for Irish companies in India and hoped trade between the two countries could increase.
“Ireland and India are two countries which highly value education, and we view India as one of our most important partner countries in this field,” Mr Kenny said.
“I am pleased to say that the number of Indian students here has increased over the last number of years, and I emphasised to the prime minister how much we welcome these students.”
Before departing for New York, where he is due to take part in the UN Sustainable Development Summit, Mr Modi met members of Ireland’s Indian community at a reception in Dublin.
He told the gathering that if India’s economy continued its rapid growth, the eradication of poverty could be achieved within 30 years. “The 21st century could be India’s,” he said.
