Myanmar is not the first place you think of when you think of the Irish Diaspora - but we are there, and we're growing.

Travel guide Lonely Planet describes Myanmar as "a nation with well over 100 ethnic groups", adding that exploring the country "can often feel like you've stumbled into a living edition of the National Geographic, circa 1910."

But Irish links with the country are longer rooted than you may think.

Back in 2013, the Irish presidency of the European Union secured the re-admittance of Myanmar to an EU trade scheme to help promote the economic development there.

Myanmar's access to the scheme was temporarily withdrawn in 1997 due to practices of forced labour. The country then undertook a process of reform from 2011.

In recognition of this, the EU Foreign Affairs Council gave its guidance to reinstate Myanmar to the GSP - as soon as the International Labour Organisation (ILO) reported improvements in forced labour.

In June 2012, the ILO reported those improvements.

The Department of Foreign Affairs says any Irish people planning a trip to the country should "exercise extreme caution".

But one of the Irish people living there is Gareth McGeown, who is the commercial director for Coca-Cola in Myanmar - also known as Burma.

He spoke with Down to Business here on Newstalk about how the Irish are making an impact so far from home.