The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore TD and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD recently launched the year-long programme of ministerial-led events targeting trade and investment for Ireland in 2014.

The announcement included details of the Government’s St. Patrick’s Day ‘Promote Ireland’ programme of international activity which will see 27 Ministers taking part in over 100 business events and 80 high-level political meetings in 35 cities across 23 countries.

The announcement also included details of Enterprise Ireland's year-long programme of trade missions and international activity for 2014 as well as a major new Enterprise Ireland Market Access Grant Scheme which will help companies succeed more quickly and effectively in new markets.

Kevin Sherry, Head of International Sales and Partnering at Enterprise Ireland, said: ‘‘Exports create and sustain jobs in Ireland and the programme of trade missions and events we have put in place is designed to build on export growth in markets where Irish companies are strong and can continue to grow, as well as high growth markets where we can win new business. Ministerial-led trade missions are a key part of Enterprise Ireland’s strategy to grow Irish export sales and are of great benefit in opening doors, making high-level introductions and helping our client companies to exploit the opportunities that exist in global markets. Year on year Irish companies continue to increase their export sales, and we expect another strong performance in the coming year, supported by Enterprise Ireland and this very intensive programme of international events’.

This year, over 1000 Enterprise Ireland client companies will take part in a series of 118 international events including 18 ministerial-led trade missions to major export markets including North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. These trade missions and events are a central part of Enterprise Ireland’s drive to support Irish companies seeking to exploit new international business opportunities, target and secure new international customers and grow their sales. These activities are key to helping companies build their export markets, creating and sustaining much-needed jobs in Ireland and further increasing Ireland’s indigenous companies exports from their current record level.

For more information on this announcement please click here.