A number of Irish companies on this week’s Enterprise Ireland trade mission to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which was led by the Minister of State for Trade and Development, Jan O’Sullivan TD, have announced significant new contracts and business alliances across a range of business sectors. These announcements underpin the ongoing success of Irish companies as they continue to win new business and increase their export footprint in these rapidly growing markets and right across the Gulf region.
The trade mission is part of Enterprise Ireland’s ongoing intensive programme of overseas events to help Irish companies increase their share of fast growing export markets. The mission was assisted by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and by the Irish Embassies in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi. During the mission, Minister O’Sullivan met with the Saudi Minister for Health and with the Qatari Minister for Economy and Finance, and took part in several high level political and business meetings, all aimed at opening doors for Irish companies and paving the way for more Irish exports into these strategically important markets.
Minister O’Sullivan described the trade mission as very important in deepening Ireland’s trade and economic ties in the region.
‘This was a highly successful mission both in terms of business secured and introductions and connections made. The companies are all reporting a keen interest in what Ireland has to offer. Major infrastructure and development projects currently underway and planned, including the world cup 2022 in Qatar, all hold the potential for Irish companies to win more business and this trade mission will help ensure Irish exports continue to grow. Our Embassies in the region are working closely with Enterprise Ireland, other state agencies, and Irish companies on the ground to achieve this. I also welcome the progress that has been made in establishing a Joint Ireland-Saudi Arabia Business Council.”
Among the announcements made were:
- PM Group, the international engineering and architecture and project management firm, is currently working on a range of projects in the Gulf region with a capital value close on EUR360m, and has just begun work on a major multi-million dollar development project for Halwani Bros, one of the Gulf’s oldest food manufacturing companies with major production plants in Jeddah and Egypt.
- Pivotal International with its headquarters in Waterford secured a contract to complete the detailed design of the prestigious New Dr. Solaiman Fakeeh Hospital (DSFH) & Trauma Centre in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia as Sub-Consultant to the Main Consultant SAK Consultant Office.
- Byrne Looby Partners (BLP), specialist design and PMC consultants, has won three commissions with Al Fatah Water and Bakri Energy in Saudi Arabia, who are one of the top tier Saudi Trading Companies specialising in international shipping, port facilities, energy, water and power. BLP are also technical advisors on aspects of the new 30,000m2 16 storey Head Quarters Building for Al Bakri.
- Sligo-headquartered company Jennings O’Donovan secured a contract as Primary Infrastructure Designers to the Diyar Al Muharraq Development in the Gulf. The project will provide a cohesive mix of residential and commercial properties with housing opportunities for over 100,000 people in around 30,000 housing units in Bahrain.
- CES Energy has won a contract from Adeem Al Wataniya Group, a local developer to supply all the power, cooling, heating and water requirements on the prestigious HQ Building in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- Dublin company Astrotek Ireland, specialist technology lighting consultants, has won contract for Phase 1 of the Duhail/Umm Qarn Reservoir Project in Qatar. The company has also opened an office in Doha, Qatar, to capitalise on the major opportunities in technology consulting and services in both Qatar and the wider Gulf region.
Frank Ryan, CEO of Enterprise Ireland added:
‘These are significant and growing markets where Irish companies are already successfully doing business, carving out a strong reputation for Irish products and services. The opportunities are there for innovative, top class focussed companies, with the determination and commitment to developing long term business relationships in the Gulf region. Enterprise Ireland will continue to provide every support to Irish companies to secure more business in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other markets in the region, boosting the economy at home and creating jobs’.