Citigroup named as exporter of the year

FINANCIAL services giant Citigroup was last night named Irish Exporter of the Year.

The IFSC-based company was awarded the top prize by the Irish Exporters Association because of its “impressive performance” in developing a range of financial services from Ireland.

The judging panel said Citigroup Ireland has contributed to the development of the financial services industry and to the success of the International Financial Services Centre.

Citigroup employs more than 1,200 people in Ireland.

The association’s president Don Moore said that services are playing an increasing role in the export success story.

“Statistics show that there was a substantial acceleration in overall export growth during the 1990s which resulted in a doubling of the Irish share of world exports.

“As good as that sounds it is remarkable to report that the services export sector in the past ten years has increased its contribution by ten fold,” Mr Moore said last night.