Excerpts from the interview
What made you visit Hyderabad and other cities?
The visits are in the backdrop of a European trade deal with India. The Ireland-India Economic Advisory Panel (IIEAP), consisting of top Indian entrepreneurs, is actively involved in the deliberations. A framework for signing a Memorandum of Understanding between India and Ireland is also being prepared. The Irish govt views India as a strong partner for investment opportunities.
Since Jan, two Irish ministers visited India, and I travelled to Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. Additionally, I met Union ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia and Jitin Prasada to discuss other immediate collaboration opportunities.
What are the opportunities for students and companies from India and Telangana in Ireland?
Regarding opportunities for students and companies from India and Telangana in Ireland, many Indians are engaged in research in Ireland. There is a robust one lakh Indian-origin population actively involved in education and other sectors. I come from Dublin West, with a large Indian origin and NRI population.
We have excellent educational institutions where students can pursue higher education programmes. We are exploring investment options in technology and pharmaceuticals, with Hyderabad being a strong player in these sectors. Several Irish companies already invested in the region, creating jobs. During my visit, I interacted with these companies in Hyderabad, as well as with a few local firms, although I did not yet meet any govt representatives. We also have student interactions at JNTU in Hyderabad.
Any immediate collaboration in the near future?
There are numerous business and collaborative opportunities between both countries. We aim for Ireland to serve as a gateway for mutually beneficial opportunities in Europe for India. As a starting point, we are actively exploring the possibility of establishing direct flights between Ireland and India. We discussed this initiative with several airline operators from India.
How does the Irish budget presentation work; is it surplus or deficit?
In Ireland, the ministry of finance is managed by two ministers: the minister of finance and the minister of public expenditure. The minister of Finance is responsible for tax policy and establishes financial regulation policies. This division of responsibilities was created a few years ago during a coalition govt for political reasons. Since then, both ministers oversaw all relevant policies.
As the minister of public expenditure, my role involves planning for expenditures, including current expenses such as salaries and welfare measures as a protection budget. Capital infrastructure projects typically have long-term five-year plans, with a clear year-by-year allocation of funds for each segment. The Irish budget reported a surplus, with a surplus of 12 billion Euros from the previous year, and we are anticipating more surplus ahead. The protection budget includes provisions for free primary education and healthcare.
Sribala Vadlapatla is a Senior Assistant Editor with 15 years of ...
Read MoreSribala Vadlapatla is a Senior Assistant Editor with 15 years of experience at The Times of India and 30 years overall in mainstream and web journalism. She covers Telangana's political, economic, health, technological, and socio-cultural topics, and is deeply interested in policy, governance, emerging technologies, international affairs, economy and music.
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