The Japanese Prime Minister yesterday underlined the growing trade and investment partnership between Japan and Ireland when he praised the experience of Japanese companies in Ireland and the performance of the Irish work force.
Mr Keizo Obuchi made the remarks in a 30-minute meeting in his Tokyo residence yesterday with the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Harney, who is on a 10-day tour of Japan, New Zealand and Australia.
Ms Harney said after the meeting that Mr Obuchi was "optimistic and upbeat" about the role of the euro in the world economy, and had predicted it would be good for European trade.
The meeting came at the conclusion of two days of discussions with Japanese companies which saw the announcement of almost 600 new jobs in the next five years arising from investment by three Japanese concerns in Dublin and Limerick.
Yesterday three other Japanese companies told Ms Harney of their interest in partnership arrangements with Irish firms which could result in a major boost to Irish exports.
The three companies, as yet unnamed, have been discussing joint ventures in Ireland with Tokyo-based officials of Enterprise Ireland.
Officials said that if negotiations succeeded, the companies would be investing up to $25 million in joint ventures with Irish companies which would ultimately be exporting $50 million worth of components annually to Japan. An announcement is expected in six weeks.
Mr Obuchi's agreement to meet Ms Harney reflects his personal interest in Ireland - he has been a frequent visitor to the Irish embassy - and Japan's growing interest in Ireland as a thriving economy and its entry into the euro zone, which among other things gives Ireland a seat on the board of the European Central Bank.
Mr Obuchi and Ms Harney also discussed Ireland's claim to a seat on the United Nations Security Council.
Turkey and Norway are competing for the non-permanent seat, and Irish missions abroad are lobbying their host countries to support Dublin's claim for a position it last held in the early 1980s.
Irish officials appeared optimistic that Japan would back Ireland because of a pattern of mutual support between the two countries.
Ireland is supporting Tokyo's claim to a permanent seat on the Security Council, the five current members of which are the US, Russia, China, France and the UK. Japan and Germany are seeking permanent membership.
The Japanese have also spoken highly of Ireland's record at the UN in taking initiatives and participating in peacekeeping missions.
The Japanese recall, too, that Ireland initiated the nuclear non-proliferation treaty at the UN in the 1950s, a particularly sensitive issue for the only country ever to come under nuclear attack.
Earlier Ms Harney met Mr Ichiro Ozawa, leader of the Liberal Party in government and an influential figure in Japanese politics.
The Tanaiste and accompanying officials left Tokyo last night by Government jet for New Zealand where she will meet the Prime Minister, Ms Jenny Shipley, today and give the keynote address on Friday at a conference of the Institute of Professional Engineers.
