The Taoiseach has urged Irish business to exploit the links being forged between Ireland and South America at the end of his nine-day visit to the region.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Mr Ahern described the opportunities for business in the region as "immense". He said the Government could "set up the structure, the mechanism and the links". It was up to businesses then to take advantage of that.
He said he had been conscious over the last two years of the need for Irish business to look beyond Europe and develop relationships around the world in regions such as Latin America and China. Latin America had 350 million people and Ireland's trade with the region was very low.
Enterprise Ireland has identified seven or eight sectors for the expansion of trade in the region, he said. These were mainly related to information and computer technology.