Europe

Ireland
Last reviewed: 18 June 2009

Country information

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TRADE AND INVESTMENT

Trade

The trade and investment links between the two countries are very strong. Two way trade in goods and services amounted to more than £40 billion in 2007 (the latest year for which service figures are available).

Despite having a population of only 4.2 million, Ireland remains the UK's fourth largest export market. Exports of goods in 2008 totalled £19 million, an increase of 7% on the previous year. It is the only major international market where the UK is the foremost supplier and the UK's largest export market for food and drink. UK imports of Irish goods increased by almost 10% last year to £12.4 million, making Ireland the 9th largest source of UK imports of goods in 2008.

Foreign Direct Investment

Ireland is the fifth most popular destination for British firms investing overseas, receiving UK investment flows of more than £4.2 billion in 2007. At the end of 2007 the UK investment stock in Ireland was £25.8 billon.

Total Irish investment stock in the UK amounted to over £7.9 billion, although the flow of investment from Ireland into the UK fell sharply in 2007, to £185 million (down from £816 million the previous year).

Link to UK Trade and Investment Country Profile: Ireland https://www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk/ukti/appmanager/ukti/countries?_nfls=false&_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=CountryType1&navigationPageId=/ireland

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Useful Links

Contacts

Ireland, Dublin, British Embassy

Address:

British Embassy
29 Merrion Road
Ballsbridge
Dublin 4

Telephone:

(353) (1) 205 3775 Trade and Investment
(353) (1) 205 3742 Press & Public Affairs enquiries only
1570 214 666 (in Ireland, charged at €1.75 per minute) or 0906 664 1717 (from the UK, charged at £1.50 per minute). All passport enquiries are handled on our behalf by Abtran.
1570 214 314 (in Ireland, charged at €1.75 per minute) or 00 353 76 670 9865 (if calling outside of Ireland, callcharged at $14). All UK visa enquiries are handled on our behalf by WordBridge Service.

Fax:

(353) (1) 205 3885 Management
(353) (1) 205 3880 Trade and Investment
(353) (1) 205 3731 Chancery
(353) (1) 205 3890 Visa
(353) (1) 205 3820 Passports
(353) (1) 205 3779 Consular
(353) (1) 205 3893 Press & Public Affairs

Email: management.dubli@fco.gov.uk

Email: consular.dubli@fco.gov.uk

Email: chancery.dublx@fco.gov.uk

Office hours:

GMT: (Local Time = GMT)
Mon-Thurs: 0900-1245 / 1400-1715
Fri: 0900-1245 / 1400-1700

Website: http://britishembassyinireland.fco.gov.uk/en/

Ireland