Minister Michael Ahern Completes Successful Enterprise Ireland Trade Visit to Australia

“Australia Offers Significant Opportunities for Irish Companies” - Ahern

Today (Friday 22nd September 2006) Michael Ahern T.D, Minister for International Trade, completed his ten day Enterprise Ireland promotional visit to Australia. Minister Ahern’s visit reinforced Ireland's commitment to working in partnership with Australia at Government, agency and business level to assist Irish companies in their pursuit of increased business in the Australian market.

Commenting on the Trade Visit Mr Ahern said: “This trade visit has proven hugely successful in raising Ireland’s profile as a world-class supplier of goods and services, and in increasing Australian awareness of Ireland’s recent economic performance. Australia and the Asia Pacific region present very significant market opportunities for Irish companies. I am delighted to witness the development of strong business relationships and significant contracts for Irish firms in Australia.”

Exports by Irish companies to Australia were worth over AU$1.2bn in 2005 and showed an increase of 36% in the first quarter of 2006. Forty-six Irish companies now have offices in Australia – up from nineteen in 2001 – and they cover a wide range of sectors, including information technology, telecoms, financial services software, e-Learning, engineering, agribusiness, manufacturing services and consumer products.

Mr Ahern was guest of honour and key-note speaker at the “Focus on Business” three-day conference hosted by the Australian Government and held in the national capital, Canberra, on 13-15 September.

In Canberra, Minister Ahern attended a partnership announcement by Irish software company ValidSoft and Telstra (Australia’s leading telecommunications and information services company). The two companies announced their intention to partner in the Australian marketplace. ValidSoft is a market leader in authentication solutions for online business.

During the Minister’s visit to Canberra, Irish biometric software company Daon announced a €30m biometric software and services contract with the Australian Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA). Daon partnered with prime contractor Unisys, a worldwide technology services and solutions company, on the project.  Minister Ahern acknowledged that this is the largest single contract ever won by an Irish software company in Australia. Daon’s identity assurance platform and their associated software is becoming the standard for biometric solutions worldwide. In Caberra, Mr Ahern also met with clients of Irish company Cúram Software, a world leader in the development of Social Enterprise Management software.

In Sydney on 18 September, Mr Ahern attended an event to support the expansion in the Australasian region of Irish company Glen Dimplex, now the world's largest electrical heating business. Glen Dimplex recently announced that it has acquired a major shareholding in New Zealand company Metal Fab Industries.

While in Sydney, Mr Ahern also hosted an event by IDA Ireland to meet with Australian companies that have already invested in Ireland and to encourage other local companies that are considering Ireland as a base of operations for Europe.

On 19September, Mr Ahern officially opened the Henty Machinery Field Days, where Ireland was a guest nation this year. Henty Machinery Field Days is Australia’s premier agri-machinery show, with more than 60,000 attendees and 750 exhibitors attending the three-day event. Eight Irish companies participated in the show on the Irish National Stand, organised by Enterprise Ireland. Mr Ahern also attended an Irish agribusiness trade dinner hosted by Enterprise Ireland.

Commenting at the event Mr Ahern said: “A number of Irish companies have had significant exports to the Australian agribusiness sector - particularly in the areas of agricultural machinery, materials handling equipment, agricultural chemicals and veterinary pharmaceuticals. Many of those participating in the event are market leaders in their field and sales by Irish companies at the Field Days are expected to exceed AU$1m.”

ENDS/TC 245