Ireland's €70m China deals

IRISH companies and universities signed contracts and agreements estimated to be worth more than €70 million with Chinese counterparts in Beijing yesterday.

Business contracts accounted for some €38.5m of the total.

Dublin software firm Cornerstone International agreed a deal with Neusoft which will see the latter distribute Cornerstone's basic computer training package in China.

Cork-based chemical firm Audit Diagnostics has also secured an exclusive distribution agreement which will see its products sold throughout the country.

Butler Manufacturing Services of Co Longford, a firm which designs waste water treatment products, has won a commission to build a new treatment plant in China.

Dublin technology firm Mobile Aware, opened a new office in Beijing, while Web Reservations, also Dublin-based, has won a contract to provide a Chinese hotel group with an online booking system.

Meanwhile, seven Irish third-level institutions put in place agreements with Chinese universities estimated to be worth €31m.

Under the agreements, the colleges and institutes of technology from the two countries will deliver joint courses or engage in student-exchange programmes.

The money will be generated from students who come to this country under the agreements to study or carry out postgraduate research.

Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin said he expects more contracts to be signed before the week is over.