ORDERS of more than €20 million are expected to be placed during Showcase 2012, a trade event featuring 350 of the country’s leading designers, manufacturers and craftspeople.

A COUNTY Waterford engineering firm that has been placed in liquidation has been ordered to repay about €250,000 to the European Commission over its failure to fulfil a contract to build wind turbines.

THE country’s craft and fashion designers expect to earn up to €42 million at an international trade fair later this month.

IRISH companies will sign deals worth $20 million (€15 million) with major American partners during Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin’s trade visit to the United States this week.

TIPPERARY Crystal has taken the somewhat radical step of launching a billboard campaign for its Louise Kennedy brand in three of the country’s largest cities.