Pictured at the launch of Enterprise Ireland's Annual Report are: Richard Bruton TD, Minister of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Julie Sinnamon, Chief Executive Officer, Enterprise Ireland and Terence O’Rourke, Chairman, Enterprise Ireland.

2013 saw the best performance in over a decade in export growth and net job creation by Enterprise Ireland client companies, as detailed in Enterprise Ireland’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2013.

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.

Total direct employment in Enterprise Ireland client companies stood at 175,750 in 2013 (149,718 full time and 26,032 part time). By the end of 2013, companies supported by Enterprise Ireland were employing and sustaining well over 300,000 jobs (direct and indirect) in Ireland. Economic calculations indicate that for every 10 jobs created in an Irish exporting company, 13 additional jobs are created elsewhere in the economy in supply and service companies.

Latest figures show that direct expenditure by Irish-owned firms, in terms of payroll and purchases of raw materials and services produced in Ireland, account for €20.28 billion expenditure in the Irish economy.

As part of the Action Plan for Jobs, over the past three years the number of Ministerial-led trade missions has been double the level prior to 2011.

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
• Enterprise Ireland opened new offices in Istanbul, Turkey, and Austin, Texas, USA, growing its overseas network to 30 international offices
• A dedicated new Global Sourcing team was set up to work closely with IDA Ireland to help identify opportunities for client companies to win a greater share of the procurement spend by MNCs in Ireland
• In 2013 Enterprise Ireland invested in 104 new high-potential start-up (HPSU) companies, the highest number yet in a single year
• Over 40 projects led by women achieving investment through either HPSU funding or through the Competitive Start Fund, up from 16 in 2012
• Under the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs 2013 Enterprise Ireland was directly responsible for delivering 77 of a total of 333 actions across a wide number of activities

Copies of the annual report are available at: 
www.enterprise-ireland.com/annualreport2013

Click to view larger image