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New jobs, contracts and business deals announced as Gulf trade mission concludes

Taoiseach Enda Kenny with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates

Taoiseach Enda Kenny with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates

Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Jobs Minister Richard Bruton have this week been leading a trade mission to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

The mission was part of a five-year strategy targeting €1billion in exports to the Gulf region from Irish companies. At the end of the mission, Irish companies have announced the initial outcomes including the creation of 95 new jobs in Ireland and new contracts and business developments worth more than €65million.

The mission included over 100 executives from 87 Irish companies.

Throughout the week Irish companies from a wide range of sectors concluded deals, prospected with hundreds of potential buyers, developed relationships with key influencers and networked with local experts and buyers in what was the largest ever Irish trade mission to the Gulf.

The deals announced reinforce the huge potential for innovative Irish companies in the fast growing Gulf market which will ultimately mean jobs in Ireland.

The Taoiseach said:

This has been a highly successful mission which has achieved very tangible outcomes. Irish companies have been steadily increasing their export footprint across the Gulf region and there can be no doubt that the success of this mission will go a long way to seeing that Irish exports continue to grow. This Government will continue to prioritise improving Ireland’s reputation in foreign markets and helping Irish business succeed around the world.

Minister Bruton said:

We have doubled the number of trade missions since coming to office, because they support increased exports from Irish companies and ultimately more jobs for Ireland. The work done this week will make a major contribution towards our target of €1billion in exports to this region in five years, which would support 4000 extra jobs in Ireland.

Read the full press release here.