Minister Kitt Performs Official Opening of Citrix Systems new Software Technical and Customer Support Centre 50 New Jobs for Dublin - Kitt

Mr. Tom Kitt T.D., Minister for Labour, Trade and Consumer Affairs today (Friday 15th October, 1999) performed the official opening and announced details of the new Software Technical and Customer Support Centre for Citrix Systems Inc, (Nasdaq: CTXS) which is being supported by IDA Ireland, at East Point Business Park, Dublin. With recruitment already underway, the Centre will create 50 new jobs over the next eighteen months, primarily for third level software graduates and technicians. It will serve Citrix®'s European, Middle Eastern and African markets.

Minister Kitt announcing the investment said, "Ireland had to compete with a number of other locations in Europe for this Centre. Citrix chose Dublin because of its telecommunications infrastructure, the better availability of software and language graduates and the ready access to third level software educational facilities."

Citrix develops, markets, sells and supports application-server software for network-based deployment of Microsoft Windows-based applications.

Minister Kitt said "Citrix Systems is a welcome addition to the software industry which is now firmly established in Ireland. We have a thriving indigenous sector which is creating a broad range of innovative products, from myriad business applications, software tools, advanced telecommunications systems, through state-of-the-art multimedia systems. In tandem with the development of the indigenous sector, an equally strong overseas sector has chosen Ireland as an offshore software location and become established here. Internationally, Ireland is now recognised as a prime source of high quality software development services and as the ideal gateway to European markets."

Citrix pioneered and is the market leader in server-based computing, a solution that offers a high-performance, reliable, secure and manageable way of delivering business-critical applications to 'end-user devices', (e.g. a fully equipped PC, notebook computer, UNIX workstation or a truly "thin" handheld appliance). This computing model enables applications to be deployed, managed, supported and executed 100% on a server. Server-based computing provides application access across any network to virtually any type of client, while delivering benefits that include reduced cost of ownership and increased manageability.

The establishment of the Dublin Centre by Citrix is an integral and vital part of the company's strategy of centralising services to improve customer support and accommodate growing global demand for its products. The Centre, in addition to providing fully integrated technical and customer support services for the three markets, will also include software engineering and development. As the Centre becomes established it is expected to include additional areas such as professional services, training, administration, marketing and sales functions.