22nd May 2015
Contracts worth almost €30 million have been announced by Irish companies participating on the trade mission to Poland and Czech Republic led by Minister for Business and Employment Ged Nash TD.
Enterprise Ireland’s mission deemed a success with great potential for the future
The trade mission to Warsaw and Prague included a delegation of 42 Irish companies that participated in more than 100 one-to-one meetings with their counterparts. The mission explored export opportunities across a number of sectors including Engineering, Electronics, Smart Farming, Software, IT for Travel and Medical Devices. Representatives of An Bord Bia and a number of leading food companies also participated.
Among the announcements by Irish companies during the mission were partnerships and contracts by:
- PPI adhesives with AGC Group
- Bookassist with Orea Hotels
- RealTime Technologies with LG Electronics CZ
- RealTime Technologies with the University of West Bohemia
- BookAssist with Hotel Paris
Minister Nash participated in more than 20 high-level meetings and events. Speaking on his return he said: “At the heart of our Action Plan for Jobs is building a sustainable economy based on exports and innovation. As the immediate results from this mission show, the opportunities for Irish companies to increase their sales to Poland and the Czech Republic are real. Exports by Enterprise Ireland client companies reached a new record of €18.6bn in 2014, an increase of 10% on 2013 results. Central Europe will continue to be a key market for Irish goods and services.
Irish companies and their workers are central to the recovery we are starting to see across our economy. The 42 companies who participated in this mission have done great work over the past week – beginning partnerships and finalising deals. These companies will drive our employment recovery, and I wish them every success in pursuing the opportunities that have developed over the past week".
In line with Enterprise Ireland’s strategy, the objective of the trade mission was to build on Ireland’s existing strong economic links with Poland and the Czech Republic. Over the course of the four day programme, introductions were made, contacts developed and business relationships progressed from which significant increases in exports and jobs by Irish companies are expected over the coming years.
Conor Fahy, Regional Director Central & Eastern Europe, Russia and Latin America, Enterprise Ireland, who accompanied Minister Nash on the trade mission added: “A key element of Enterprise Ireland’s strategy is to grow indigenous Irish companies on a global scale. Ministerial-led trade missions are proven to provide a strong platform to promote Ireland and Irish companies as strategic partners across multiple sectors in key international markets. Trade missions also demonstrate how Enterprise Ireland can act as a conduit for international buyers to access Ireland’s world class goods and services. The announcements made by Irish companies during this trade mission clearly demonstrate the opportunities that exist for innovative and ambitious Irish companies across Central Europe. Enterprise Ireland is committed to working closely with our client companies as they grow their international sales and create much-needed jobs in Ireland”.
ENDS
Media Contact Information:
DJEI: Press Office 01 631 2200
Enterprise Ireland: Aoife O’Sullivan, 087-3288076
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