Ireland has opened a stand-alone embassy in Ukraine on Aug. 23, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.
Previously, Irish diplomats were temporarily accommodated at the premises of the EU Delegation to Ukraine. Ukrainian visa applications were processed by the Irish Embassy in Moscow.
“The opening of the Irish Embassy in Kyiv creates additional opportunities for the development of trade cooperation between our countries and, undoubtedly, will contribute to the intensification of bilateral cooperation in many sectors, in particular the IT sector, in the field of investment and education,” Deputy Foreign Minister Dmytro Senik said.
Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said this is an important step in the development of relations between the two countries.
Earlier, on Aug. 19, Irish Ambassador to Ukraine Teresa Gili presented her credentials to President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky.
According to the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, trade volume between Ukraine and Ireland amounted to $677 million in 2020, equivalent to 0.8% of the total trade volume between Ukraine and all EU member states. In the first quarter of 2021, trade decreased by 15.8% compared to the first quarter of 2020 and amounted to $176.5 million.
Top trade areas include agriculture, pharmaceuticals, processed food, transportation and computer and telecommunication services, Ukrinform reports.
Diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Ireland were established in 1992, and the Ukrainian Embassy in Ireland opened in 2003.
