African Ambassadors Touring Business Sites Around Ireland

The Ambassador of Lesotho to Ireland H.E Mr. Paramente Phamotse together with six other Ambassadors of African countries resident in Ireland embarked on a tour of several businesses across Ireland as part of their initiative to explore business possibilities and partnerships for their countries in Ireland. The Ambassadors first visited Abbey Machinery in Nenagh Co. Tipperary and the Tipperary Co-Op Creamery in Tipperary Town on the 20th October 2011. The Ambassadors further visited Belmont Plant and Equipment and Grant Engineering (Ireland) Ltd in Birr Co. Offally on the 3rd November 2011. The Ambassadors were impressed by the success of these enterprises that are home-grown and doing good business including exporting to the European market for varying sizes of thier products. The location of these family owned manufacturing businesses in small towns and villages is what makes them appealing and unique.

The African envoys also visited Shabra Recycling Ltd in Castleblayney in Co. Monaghan on the 15th November and Hi Spec Engineering Ltd in Bagnalstown and Delmec Engineering Ltd in Graiguecullen both in Co. Carlow on the 17th November 2011. The last visit of 2011 is to Dunreidy Engineering and Glanbia Plc on the 30th November in Kilkenny.

There are high expectations for the improvement of trade and investment between Ireland and Africa following the launch of the Africa-Ireland Forum and Africa Strategy by the government of Ireland on the 13th September 2011. These visits are therefore geared towards enhacing this noble idea.