Irish Companies Achieve a Record Gross €1.699 Billion in New Exports
Exports up 12.1% to €11.779 Billion
Enterprise Ireland Exceeds 2006 Targets

Enterprise Ireland today (Wednesday, 18th July 2007) published its Annual Report and Accounts for 2006. Enterprise Ireland-supported companies recorded a strong performance in 2006, achieving a record €1.699 Billion in gross new export sales contributing to total exports of €11.779 Billion for the year.

Commenting on the 2006 outturn, Pat Molloy, Chairman of the Board of Enterprise Ireland said: "This impressive performance is owed directly to the ambitious international sales and partnering strategies being implemented by Enterprise Ireland's client companies, coupled with an increased focus on competitiveness, innovation and management development. I am also pleased to report a net increase in employment in client companies of 1,261."

"A thriving indigenous industry is central to sustaining Ireland's economic growth. Enterprise Ireland's client companies make a very positive contribution to the Irish economy, spending in the order of €16 Billion each year on home-sourced goods, services and payroll. These Irish companies have a considerable and often understated impact on regional economic development in Ireland" he added.

Frank Ryan, Chief Executive Officer, Enterprise Ireland, said: "Our clients made significant gains in 2006 in an ever challenging global economic environment and I am particularly pleased with a 12.1% net growth in exports. Irish companies are continuing to perform strongly in international markets against global competition and their achievements represent a significant outcome in the second year of our three-year strategy 2005 - 2007: Transforming Irish industry".

"The performance in 2006 should encourage Irish entrepreneurs, early stage and growing businesses to take the next steps in developing an internationally competitive business. Enterprise Ireland will continue to work with ambitious Irish companies to help them advance their research, innovate, enhance management capabilities, achieve scale and access new international markets"

Concluding his remarks Frank Ryan said: "2006 reflects a year of excellent performance.  Enterprise Ireland has made substantial progress across each of our targets in the 2005-2007 strategy: Transforming Irish Industry and the organisation is well positioned to deliver on all of our three-year strategic targets in 2007. With the Chairman I thank Enterprise Ireland staff and all of our partners in industry and Government for their continued support".

"Work is underway on the development of a new Enterprise Ireland strategy covering the period 2008 - 2010. In the meantime we will be unyielding in applying our full resources to achieve the aims of the current strategy."

--ENDS--
For further information contact:

Sarah O'callaghan, Press Officer Enterprise Ireland, Glasnevin, Dublin 9 Tel: +353 1 808 2755 Mobile: 353 87 1253221

Ciara O'Mahony, Press Officer Enterprise Ireland, Glasnevin, Dublin 9 Tel: 353 1 808 2284 Mobile: 353 86 1731537

Highlights from the Annual Report 2006 include

• Gross new export sales generated reach €1.699 Billion
• Total exports sales in 2006 reach €11.779 Billion, an increase of 12.1% on 2005
• Net increase in employment of 1,261 in Enterprise Ireland supported companies
• 284 companies secured first-time international sales contracts
• New Enterprise Ireland overseas offices established in India, Canada and Brazil
• 31 leading Irish software and technology company CEOs participating in the Leadership4Growth Programme at Stanford University
• 4 industry-led research projects underway in the BioIndustry, eLearning, Power Electronics and Mobile Telecoms sectors
• 63 company-college collaboration projects supported through the Innovation Partnerships Initiative
• 400 potential entrepreneurs take part in First Step programmes delivered throughout the country
• €7 million approved for Community Enterprise Centre Scheme projects in 2006

Click here to download Presentation by Frank Ryan, CEO, Enterprise Ireland (PowerPoint; 1825K)

Click here to download the Enterprise Ireland Annual Report & Accounts 2006 in HTML format

Click here to access the Enterprise Ireland Annual Report in PDF format in English and Irish