Ambassador Pisanu Suvanajata of Thailand led the ASEAN Dublin Committee (ADC) on an official visit to Ireland during 16-18 October 2019. This ADC visit was organised under Thailand’s ADC Chairmanship in order to promote friendship and strengthen cooperation between ASEAN and Ireland and to learn about the latest political and economic developments in Ireland including the impact of Brexit.

On 16 October 2019, ADC paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr Simon Coveney, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland, during which both sides exchanged views and shared visions on the Irish Foreign Policy, the challenge from Brexit, potential ASEAN-Ireland collaboration, how to capitalise on the opportunities given ASEAN’s visions and “Global Ireland” Strategy, and potential areas of cooperation in global issues as Ireland was campaigning for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in June 2020.  On this occasion, Mr. Coveney also hosted lunch in honour of the ASEAN ambassadors to thank them for making this historic visit, whereby all ten ASEAN Ambassadors were present in Ireland for three full days.  This offered a special opportunity to further enhance Ireland-ASEAN relations and reflected ASEAN’s commitment to expand and deepen its partnership with Ireland for mutual benefits.  

The ADC also had a meeting with Mr. Pat Breen, Minister of State for Business, Enterprises and Innovation, where he briefed the ADC on the latest Brexit developments and opportunities for collaboration, as well as attended a business networking event co-organised by Asia Matters.  The ADC also received a briefing from ten Irish education organisations on education, research and innovation opportunities with academic and research institutions from ASEAN Member States, and a briefing by the Irish Food Board on the new “Origin Green”, Ireland’s sustainable food production strategy, and on the opportunities for collaboration. Afterwards, the ADC visited Silver Hill Duck Farm, situated  on both sides of the Irish/Northern Ireland border, to learn about its operation and the impact from Brexit, as well as observed the pre-Brexit border area between Ireland and Northern Ireland from County Monaghan (Ireland) to County Tyrone (Northern Ireland, UK).

The ASEAN Dublin Committee (ADC) delegation comprises nine Ambassador/High Commissioners of nine ASEAN countries based in London (namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam,) and the Malaysian  High Commissioner in Dublin. Their main roles are to promote ASEAN visibility and awareness in Ireland, to explore opportunities for collaboration, to enhance ASEAN-Ireland relations as well as to foster ASEAN-EU cooperation through Ireland.