Ahern down under to push Irish trade

TRADE Minister Michael Ahern has begun a 10-day Enterprise Ireland promotional visit to Australia.

Mr Ahern said that sales by Irish companies in Australia were worth over €713 million in 2005 and showed an increase of 36% in the first quarter of 2006 and the country has become the largest export destination in the Asia Pacific region for exports.

“Opportunities for additional substantial growth in Irish-Australian trade in the coming years are likely to be stimulated by the creation of strategic alliances and partnerships among export-led companies. There are already a number of such alliances between Irish and Australian companies and there is scope for more linkages.” Minister Ahern said.