Mayo minister begins historic Central America visit
MINISTER of State Alan Dillon has begun a seven-day official visit to Mexico and Guatemala, becoming the first Irish government minister to visit Guatemala.
During the visit, Minister Dillon will meet the President of Guatemala, Bernardo Arévalo, along with senior Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Economy and Agriculture, as Ireland seeks to deepen diplomatic and economic links across Central and Latin America.
Speaking at the start of the visit, Minister Dillon said: “This visit is about strengthening Ireland’s relationships across Central and Latin America and building new partnerships in trade, investment and diplomacy.
“Ireland is a small country with a global outlook. By strengthening connections with countries like Guatemala and Mexico, we are creating opportunities for Irish businesses, supporting jobs at home and deepening our international partnerships.”
In Guatemala City, Minister Dillon will attend a St. Patrick’s Day reception with members of the Irish community, the diplomatic corps and senior government representatives.
He will then travel to Mexico City where he will meet the Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade (COMCE) and representatives involved in preparations for the FIFA World Cup.
He will also meet Irish and Enterprise Ireland supported companies operating in Mexico, including Stripe, Smurfit Westrock, Portwest, ICON, Bimeda, BioAtlantis, WaterWipes and University College Cork.
Minister Dillon commented: “Irish companies are making a real impact globally. I look forward to meeting businesses operating in Mexico and supporting their continued growth in these important markets in Latin and Central America.
“St. Patrick’s Day is also a moment to celebrate Ireland’s culture and strengthen connections with our diaspora and international partners.”