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2013 saw best jobs & export performance in over a decade - Bruton
Minister Bruton speaking at a recent Action Plan for Jobs event
Jobs Minister Richard Bruton today welcomed the publication of Enterprise Ireland's 2013 Annual Report. The Report shows that 2013 saw the best performance in over a decade in export growth and net job creation by Enterprise Ireland client companies.
These companies achieved a record €17.1billion in export sales, representing an 8% increase on 2012 and created 18,033 new jobs in 2013. The Report confirms a net increase of 5,442 in the number of people employed which is the largest net increase in a decade and underscores the clear link between strong export growth in new and existing markets across the globe, and job creation here in Ireland.
Other findings of the report include:
- In 2013, close to 860 companies were involved in significant R&D projects of above €100,000 spend per annum, with almost 140 companies engaged in substantial R&D projects of over €1m spend, both results up on the 2012 figures
- The number of CEOs and Managers participating in Enterprise Ireland’s leadership and management development programmes increased to close to 1,100 in 2013
- Over 1,000 client companies taking part in 18 minister-led trade missions and a further 67 international events in major target markets in North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America
- Enterprise Ireland brought over 1,100 targeted international buyers to Ireland to meet client companies here to progress business alliances and new contracts
The Minister said:
At the heart of the Action Plan for Jobs is creating a powerful engine of Irish exporting businesses alongside the strong multinational sector we have built up. Enterprise Ireland is the agency with a mandate to deliver on this, and together we have put in place a range of measures to achieve it, including doubling the number of trade missions, increasing Enterprise Ireland staff in overseas markets and new tax incentives for exporting companies. Today’s report shows that the companies Enterprise Ireland supports continue to go from strength to strength.