Ireland and India enjoy a very close partnership: Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Ireland and India have always enjoyed a very close partnership, said Biocon founder and chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, adding she always owed her entrepreneurial origins to Ireland. She was speaking at Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations, held here on Sunday (March 22). Kevin Kelly, Ambassador of Ireland to India, was also present.

“I’m so proud to be representing Ireland in India in the city of Bengaluru, for the last over 25 years,’’ she said. She has been serving as Honorary Consul General of Ireland since 2001 and hosted the 25th consecutive annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration in the city.

“St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Bengaluru serve as a joyful reminder amid global turmoil that we are all one, united in celebrating humanity. India-Ireland relations shine through deep business ties — from my Biocon journey sparked by an Irish biotech entrepreneur, to successful trade missions with the Tánaiste and Ministers, Irish IT firms thriving here, and Indian investments powering Ireland’s tech sector,’’ she said. Through initiatives like Science Gallery Bengaluru, both the countries should deepen mutual bonds and harness this shared spirit to build an even stronger future together, she further said.

Mr. Kelly said that Ireland and India have a very long and rich history. “We’ve been trying to make that history relevant to a new generation, as well as talk about the future as a platform to build our relationship with India going forward,’’ he added. The Ambassador also said both the countries are in the process of strengthening trade links. “Ireland is one of 27 EU countries, but we account for 10% of the total EU trade with India, nearly 16 billion euros, and there’s so much more we can do. We are also strengthening people-to-people links such as partnerships between universities and Supreme Courts in Dublin and in New Delhi,’’ he added.