It is understood that Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) and the Bank of China (BOC) have both held a series of pre-application meetings with the Central Bank ahead of a potential move to Ireland.

The banks are part of a cohort of up more than 10 City of London based Asian and American banks that are in talks with the State about relocating here.

They include smaller Chinese and Japanese investment banks and asset management firms seeking to maintain access to Europe's single market.

The talks are being progressed as Ireland secures the first wave of jobs following last June's shock decision by the British electorate to leave the European Union.

Last week Northern Ireland pharma, Almac, announced that it was creating up to 100 new jobs in Dundalk, Co Louth.

British bank Barclays is also reported to be adding about 150 staff to its existing 100 strong Dublin cohort if UK based finance companies lose easy access to the single market. [...]

Full article on Irish Independent