Irish software sales to UK up 15% in difficult market conditions - Minister For Trade And Commerce Mr. Michael Ahern.

Minister for Trade and Commerce Mr. Michael Ahern T.D., today said that Irish-owned software companies increased their sales to UK customers from ST£250 million to ST£290 million in 2002, an increase of more than 15%, and this was achieved in difficult market conditions. He was speaking at an Enterprise Ireland event in the Irish Embassy in London for Irish financial software and services companies and their UK customers.

The event is part of a major marketing drive by Enterprise Ireland UK to promote Ireland as a source of software supply focusing on the financial, telecommunications, public sector and eLearning sectors.

"Ireland and the UK are doing substantially more business with each other than ever before and two-way trade is now valued at over ST£30 billion a year. Despite the global downturn, the Irish software industry continues to perform very well internationally, with exports currently running at over ST£1 billion annually. The ability of Irish industry to achieve high levels of export growth is based on a strategy, at both company and national levels, of accelerating investment in R&D in order to help create Irish companies that will be successful global companies. Ireland is committed to building a knowledge-led, innovation-driven economy with world-class technological capacities." Minister Ahern said.

Eleven leading Irish software telecoms companies took part. They were: ATT - Aviation Management Technologies (aviation industry software), Fitz Software (financial services), Flextime (time and attendance software), Information Mosaic (financial services), Orbism (software development and technical training), Performix Technologies (performance management solutions), Sharpbyte (digital media and print industry solutions), Softco Group (document and process management), Tecbrand (technology marketing), Vision Information Consulting (business and IT consultancy), and Waterford Technologies (security solutions).

ENDS/TC45