James Lawless, Ireland’s Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation, and Science, highlighted the growing ties between India and Ireland, particularly in higher education, technology, and business partnerships.

Lawless is leading a high-level delegation to New Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai to deepen collaboration between the two nations.

“This is my first visit to India. This morning, I went to IIT Delhi where I had a really good and engaging time with the students. India and Ireland have been friends for several centuries. I think this bond has an impact on the future of both countries,” Lawless told IANS.

“Ireland is home to a rapidly growing community of over 9,000 Indian students. As we continue to strengthen educational ties with India, I look forward to this trip to meet Indian universities and educational institutes to explore avenues for expanding post-study pathways and fostering deeper research collaborations between both nations,” he added.

Lawless noted that Ireland sees “immense potential” in building a robust academic and talent ecosystem that benefits both countries.

He highlighted that Ireland is also witnessing increased collaboration with Indian firms in innovation, research and development (R&D), and emerging technologies, particularly in MedTech, fintech, AI, and life sciences.

“As global businesses look for highly skilled talent and research-driven ecosystems, Ireland continues to offer Indian companies cutting-edge opportunities for expansion and innovation,” Lawless said.

Lawless’ visit marks a key milestone in the Ireland-India relationship, reaffirming Ireland’s role as a trusted partner for India’s economic, academic, and technological ambitions.

Earlier on Monday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar extended greetings to his Irish counterpart and the people of Ireland on their National Day.

“My recent visit provided an opportunity to renew our bonds and strengthen our ties,” Jaishankar posted on X.