Mr Cowen (left) will meet with Emperor Akihito and Prime Minister Taro Aso during the trip, which also involves Ireland's agriculture and trade ministers and executives from sectors ranging from pharmaceuticals to financial services. -- PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
DUBLIN - PRIME Minister Brian Cowen left for Japan on Sunday at the head of Ireland's biggest ever trade mission to the Asian nation, which is expected to result in a number of major deals, his office said.
During the six-day visit, Mr Cowen and representatives of 70 Irish companies and organisations, including businesses from British-ruled Northern Ireland, will visit Tokyo and Osaka.
'A number of important trade and investment-related deals with Japanese partners are expected to be announced during the course of the visit,' his office said.
Mr Cowen will meet with Emperor Akihito and Prime Minister Taro Aso during the trip, which also involves Ireland's agriculture and trade ministers and executives from sectors ranging from pharmaceuticals to financial services.
Ireland is the fourth biggest exporter and the biggest exporter per capita to Japan in the EU.
It was the first country in the eurozone to formally go into recession last September, as its property boom collapsed and job losses mounted. -- AFP
