Prime Minister Modi in Ireland
PM Narendra Modi held talks with Irish counterpart Enda Kenny on wide ranging issues. India gained Ireland’s support for India’s membership of Nuclear Suppliers’ Group and other international export control regimes. The focus of the PM’s Ireland visit was strengthening economic ties and people to people contacts.
PM Modi presented Prime Minister 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.
PM Narendra Modi has sought Ireland’s support for his country’s campaign to secure a permanent place on the United Nations Security Council. Modi, the first Indian prime minister to visit Ireland since Jawaharlal Nehru in 1956, “This is a good start. Next time it won’t take 60 years for a PM to come to Ireland.”
Relations between India and Ireland date back to independence and in 2013, the total trade in goods and services was pegged at €2.48 billion. The Prime Minister said science and technology and education are two other areas where India and Ireland have a good history of cooperation, and where the two countries can do much more.
From Dublin, Modi left to New York to address a UN Sustainable Development Summit and participate in a summit on peacekeeping being hosted by US President Barack Obama.
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