UK trade minister Lord Livingston has travelled to Ireland today to promote links between the two countries.

Lord Livingston will meet Taoiseach Enda Kenny as well as a host Irish businesses and support groups.

Ireland is one of the UK’s largest trading partners and the UK is Ireland’s biggest export destination, according to government stats.

Lord Livingston said: “Many UK companies operate very successfully in Ireland and we warmly welcome Irish companies to invest and expand in the UK as well.”

Among the companies greeting the UK delegation is SouthWestern, a leading business process outsourcer. It has a new base in Milton Keynes, which it projects will employ 300 people by 2017.