Pictured in South Africa are: Ian Dodson, President and CEO Digital Marketing Institute; Dr Carla Ensin, co-founder Vega School of Brand Leadership and Minister for Trade and Development Joe Costello TD

Irish companies participating Enterprise Ireland trade mission to South Africa, led by Minister for Trade and Development, Joe Costello TD in November secured new contracts totalling over €6m and agreed significant business alliances across a range of business sectors. 

Minister Costello also launched two industry expert panels that will support Irish companies seeking to win new business in South Africa in the financial services and telecommunications sectors.  These announcements underline the growing opportunities for Irish companies in the very important South Africa market, a priority market under the Government’s Trade Strategy, which is also considered to be the gateway to Sub- Saharan Africa. 
 
The trade mission involving 35 companies, which was primarily focussed on the ICT, international education and financial services sectors, was organised by Enterprise Ireland in close cooperation with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Embassy of Ireland in Pretoria.
 
Minister Costello described the trade mission as very important in terms of deepening Ireland’s trade and economic ties in the region, as well as supporting the aims of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Africa Strategy. 
 
“This was a highly successful mission both in terms of business secured and in terms of the introductions and connections made.  It is tremendously encouraging to see Irish companies winning new business in South Africa.  Enterprise Ireland opened a new office in Johannesburg in February of this year that acts as a hub for supporting Irish companies in growing their trade relationships and export sales in South Africa and in the wider Sub-Saharan African market of over 900 million people.  My Department, the Embassy Network and Enterprise Ireland are working closely together to ensure that Irish exports to these increasingly important markets continue to grow, in line with the aims of my Department’s Africa Strategy and the overall Government Trade Strategy”.
 
Among the contracts and alliances agreed were:

Digital Marketing Institute agreed a partnership with Vega School of Brand Leadership that will see over 3,000 students undertake digital marketing training in South Africa.  Vega School will deliver the Digital Marketing Institute’s Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing programme.  The Institute forecasts that the South Africa market will generate revenues in excess of €3m by 2015.

The Now Factory signed a new contract with Vodacom for its Mobile Moments Vantage solution, enabling the South Africa-based operator to accurately measure the performance of its data network in real time and optimise the customer experience of its 31 million subscribers.

Druid Software, the Irish mobile network software development company, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Jasco, the South African owned ICT converged solutions provider, to supply Fixed Mobile Converged solutions to enterprise customers in sub-Saharan Africa.

Minister Costello also inaugurated Enterprise Ireland’s Expert Panels in Financial Services and in Telecommunications to support Irish companies in these sectors increase their business presence and win new export contracts in the growing South African market.  These expert panels are made up of industry experts in South Africa with extensive expertise and knowledge of the market and industry institutions.  They will provide strategic planning support, advice and introductions for Irish companies seeking to enter or expand their business in the market. 
 
The full press release is available here