India, Ireland Deepen Cooperation in Trade, Education, Healthcare

• India’s MEA and Ireland discuss strengthening trade, education, and healthcare ties
• Brophy visits India (Jan 7–12) to meet officials and focus on migration and investment
• Ireland backs EU-India engagement, summit, and a balanced free trade agreement

(IANS) Sibi George, Secretary (West) at India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), held a meeting with Ireland’s Minister of State for Migration, Colm Brophy, recently to explore the possibilities of developing bilateral relationships not only in trade and economy but also in education, healthcare and human interaction.

In a post on X, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “Secretary (West) Sibi George received Minister of State for Migration at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration of Ireland, Mr. Colm Brophy. They discussed various aspects of strengthening and deepening ties between the two friendly countries including trade and economy, education, healthcare and people-to-people relations”.

The visit of Brophy is part of the program of Ireland’s Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, which will see him in India from January 7-12 and in Abu Dhabi from January 12-13. He will visit the MEA and Home Ministry during his stay in India, he will meet the Irish Embassy and Visa Office and have discussions with the officials concerning the issues of mutual interest like trade and investment, legal migration pathways, educational collaboration, and cooperation on shared objectives at the European Union level.

“I am delighted to visit India and Abu Dhabi. These visits underline the Government’s commitment to international engagement and to strengthening co-operation with key global partners. India, in particular, is a vital partner for Ireland, especially in trade, education and innovation, and I look forward to meeting with senior counterparts to move forward on our shared priorities”, said Colm Brophy.

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He added, “I also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the exceptional work of our staff in the visa offices in New Delhi and Abu Dhabi. Their dedication and professionalism play a crucial role in supporting Ireland's international engagement. The New Delhi visa office, as Ireland's largest visa operation outside the State, reflects the scale and importance of Ireland's relationship with the region and the vital role our visa services play in facilitating mobility”.

Ireland's connection with India is determined by the main strategies such as the Action Plan for Improved Engagement with India, the Action Plan on Market Diversification, and Ireland's Asia-Pacific Strategy. Brophy's trip is meant to make these frameworks come to life in terms of progress, thus, fostering stronger connections between the two countries.

The statement read, “The visit takes place against the backdrop of a strong and growing economic relationship between Ireland and India. Two-way trade has expanded significantly over the past decade, with combined trade now standing at just over €16 billion, an increase of approximately €12.5 billion. While services account for the majority of bilateral trade, this growth highlights the importance of continued engagement to unlock further opportunities”.

Ireland has perceived positively the EU's revitalized interaction with India, which included the new EU-India Strategic Agenda that was drafted and the forthcoming EU-India Summit that is scheduled for January 2026. Besides, Dublin has affirmed its backing of a balanced and beneficial to both sides EU-India Free Trade Agreement, which would allow more Irish and European businesses, including the food and drink sector, to access the market, and it could also be the basis for deeper cooperation between the two in the areas of research and emerging technologies.

This trip symbolizes Ireland's firm dedication to the enhancement of its strategic, economic, and cultural ties with India.