A unique diplomatic drive to attract foreign investment to Leitrim, Ireland's least-populated county, got under way yesterday with the start of a visit by ambassadors and diplomats from 14 countries.
The three-day visit involves trade and other representatives from Japan, China, Germany, Belgium and Iran.
Ambassadors from Norway, Brazil, Ethiopia and the Czech Republic were also in attendance.
The group will go boating on the Shannon, enjoy the scenery of Lough Rynn and conduct a tour of local industries and tourist attractions.
Organisers said a later date has been pencilled in for visits from diplomats and business leaders from the US and Israel. The initiative is a reversal of the practice of local councillors travelling abroad on trade missions.
Leitrim county manager Jackie Maguire said yesterday the idea for the embassy briefing visit to Leitrim arose out of the Leitrim . . . A New Life conference held in Dublin in June. That was an event at which a number of ambassadors who attended expressed a particular interest in learning more about Leitrim.
"The purpose of the visit is to highlight both the economic and tourist attributes of Co Leitrim on an international stage," said Ms Maguire.
"This visit forms part of an overall project by Leitrim County Council and Leitrim County Development Board to show that our county is open for business."