Ireland's Minister of International Trade, Mr. Tom Kitt, T.D., who is visiting Riyadh, said today (Tuesday, 9th March, 1999) that he saw good potential for enhanced trade between Ireland and Saudi Arabia. The Minister was speaking following a day of appointments with Saudi Ministers and senior officials. Minister Kitt's visit coincides with Ireland's largest ever trade delegation (some 23 companies) to visit Saudi Arabia.

In the light of his meetings the Minister said that he believed that there was good potential to develop two-way trade between Ireland and Saudi Arabia. With a view to exploring the possibilities for enhancing trade it has been agreed that a joint Saudi-Irish study will be undertaken in the near future.

The Minister said that he hoped that this study would also suggest ways in which economic relations generally might be enhanced. He said he believed that Ireland could also assist Saudi Arabia as it seeks to diversify its export base and was happy to share Ireland's own experiences on doing business in the EU. Minister Kitt said he particularly welcomed the fact that it had been agreed that the Saudi-Irish Joint Commission will beet in Riyadh in 2000. In his meetings with Saudi officials the Minister said that he supported Saudi membership of WTO believing that this would be good both for WTO and Saudi Arabia.

Trade between Ireland and Saudi Arabia increased by some 23% in 1998 and further increases are anticipated for 1999. Saudi Arabia is Ireland's leading trading partner in the Arab world.

Minister Kitt met this morning with HRH Prince Saud Al Faisal and on behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ireland, Mr. David Andrews, sought support for Ireland's candidature for the UN Security Council next year. He also met with the Minister for Health, Dr. Osama Shobokshi and the Minister for Commerce Osama Faqih. In the course of the morning the Minister also met with the Secretary General of the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce, Mr. Osama Kurdi and the Saudi Export Development Council. Together with his delegation, the Minister was a guest at a lunch jointly hosted by the Ministry of Commerce and the Council.

Tomorrow, Minister Kitt will meet the Ministers of Industry and Electricity and Education as well as the Director General of SABIC. He will also visit the New National Museum, which was recently opened as part of the centenary celebrations of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.