Countries & Regions

For approximately 45 minutes from 6:05 p.m. on June 18, Prime Minister Abe held an exchange meeting with members of Japanese companies in Northern Ireland and officials of the Northern Ireland Executive at Titanic Belfast in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Prime Minister also made a tour of the facility. An overview of the tour and exchange meeting is as follows:

1. Tour

   For approximately 10 minutes from 6:05 p.m., Prime Minister Abe made a tour of Titanic Belfast guided by the First Minister of the Northern Ireland Executive, Peter Robinson.

   The facility opened in March 2012 in Belfast — the city in which the Titanic was constructed — to mark the 100th anniversary of the launch of the Titanic, as part of an urban redevelopment project designed to revitalize the economy through tourism and other measures. Prime Minister Abe visited exhibits of the shipbuilding of Titanic construction and passenger cabins.

2. Exchange Meeting with Members of Japanese Companies in Northern Ireland

   Following the tour, for approximately 30 minutes from 6:20 p.m., Exchange Meeting was held with members of Japanese companies in Northern Ireland and officials of the Northern Ireland Executive at a reception in one of the function rooms of Titanic Belfast.

   First, the Prime Minister addressed the attendees informing them that he had rushed to Titanic Belfast directly from the G8 Summit to encourage members of Japanese companies that are in full activity in Northern Ireland. The Prime Minister then introduced “the Japan Revitalization Strategy”, which has been developed to address Japan's most pressing issue: economic revitalization. He also assured attendees that the Government will make utmost effort in supporting the overseas activities of Japanese companies. The Prime Minister also asked the Northern Ireland Executive to provide support for Japanese companies. First Minister Peter Robinson and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness then welcomed Prime Minister Abe and said that they would like to strengthen economic relations with Japan.

   Later, Prime Minister Abe, members of Japanese companies and other attendees exchanged views of their business activities in Northern Ireland and on the Japanese economy.