The First Minister will arrive in Dublin later on Monday for a series of events as part of a two-day visit to the Irish capital.

Sturgeon will begin her trip with a visit to SSE's Irish headquarters followed by a question and answer session with students from Trinity College.

On Tuesday, the First Minister will talks with the Irish president, Michael D. Higgins, as well as the country's foreign secretary, Charles Flanagan.

Sturgeon will also address the upper house of the Irish parliament, the Seanad, on her second day in Dublin. She will be the first serving head of government to do so.

The First Minister will also visit the Scottish Government's Investment and Innovation Hub in the city.

Sturgeon said: "The business, academic, cultural and political links between Scotland and Ireland are well established and we want to strengthen these even further.

"Scottish exports to Ireland are worth £1.125bn and Irish investment into Scotland currently supports more than 6000 jobs.

It's important to get across to our European partners, such as Ireland, that Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU and that we are doing everything we can to protect our relationship with Europe.

"I want companies in Ireland to know that Scotland remains open for business and will continue to be an attractive place to invest."

She added: "Ireland has always been and will continue to be a key economic partner for Scotland. It is even more important than ever that our two countries work together for the benefit of both our nations."

The SNP leader's trip to Dublin comes days after she and the Irish taoiseach, Enda Kenny, held bilateral talks over Scotland and Ireland's relationship.

The pair met in Cardiff following a British-Irish council summit.

The Scottish Government has launched a series of foreign engagements since the UK voted to leave the European Union in June.

Since the result was declared, Sturgeon has met the presidents of the EU Parliament and the EU Commission, as well as representatives from member states' governments.

The Scottish Government has pledged to publish proposals it wants Downing Street to adopt as part of its Brexit negotiating strategy.

Sturgeon has said this will include a further series of devolution including transferring powers over immigration to Holyrood.