The Taoiseach has announced a further expansion of diplomatic representation in South America, with an extra diplomat joining the embassy in Buenos Aires to work on expanding trade.
With a new embassy and consulate to open in Brazil by the end of the year, yesterday's announcement further underlines the Government's determination to increase substantially Ireland's exports to the region.
Speaking to Argentina's Council for Industrial Relations yesterday, Mr Ahern said Ireland's "increased national engagement with Latin America is mirrored by the engagement between the European Union and Latin America.
"By the end of the year, Ireland will have resident embassies in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico," he said.
Mr Ahern yesterday opened a new premises for the Irish Embassy here, which is currently staffed by an Ambassador and a third secretary. The new addition, a first secretary, will join the embassy in the autumn.
Mr Ahern had talks with the President of Argentina, Dr Fernando de la Rua, on Argentina's current economic crisis, the prospects for trade and Northern Ireland.
The Irish Ambassador to Argentina, Ms Paula Slattery, then signed an agreement on political consultations, together with the Argentinian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Rodriguez Giavarini.
Last night Mr Ahern attended a dinner hosted by the President.
The Taoiseach laid wreaths yesterday at the monument to General Jose de San Martin, the national hero of Argentina, and at the Malvinas War Memorial, which commemorates the 655 Argentinian soldiers who died in the 1981 war with Britain over the South Atlantic Islands. Such a gesture is not politically contentious - many visiting dignitaries, including Britain's Prince Charles, have laid wreaths at the monument.
On Sunday night, over 600 Argentinians of Irish descent packed a hall at Monsignor Dillon College - one of the Irish community's schools - to hear the Taoiseach outline Ireland's recent economic and political development.
Some 400,000 of Argentina's 37 million population is of Irish descent, their ancestors having emigrated from Ireland mainly in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Prior to his speech to the Irish community, Mr Ahern laid a wreath at a bust of Padraig Pearse in Plaza Irlanda.