The Taoiseach has said a Government target to create 300,000 jobs is predicated on growth in the global economy.
A new plan 'Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy' sets out specific job creation targets which are aimed at bringing about a 30% increase in exports.
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The Enterprise, Trade and Innovation Minister Batt O'Keeffe said this afternoon that the targets in the plan were ambitious. They include 150,000 new jobs in manufacturing, tourism and international services, with an additional 150,000 spin-off jobs.
The Taoiseach said the plan would build on the global talents and innovation of Irish people. Brian Cowen said Ireland had reasons to be optimistic.
Exploiting world markets is a key part of this plan. It is hoped to attract an additional 780 foreign direct investment projects and increase overseas visitors to the country to eight million.
The plan will be implemented by a new Foreign Trade Council consisting of several Government departments and State agencies. The new body will develop new brand and marketing opportunities.
The overall value of indigenous exports last year was almost €13 billion. Today's plan aims to increase that figure by €4 billion to about €17 billion by 2015. It will also target new markets such as Brazil, China, India, Russia, Japan and the Gulf States.
The Minister for Education and Skills, Mary Coughlan, the Minster for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O'Keeffe, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin, the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, Mary Hanafin, the Minster for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith and the Minister for Trade and Commerce, Billy Kelleher, worked on preparing the plan.
The Taoiseach said the Irish diaspora would be a huge part of building trade and investment opportunities for Irish businesses. He added that the immigrant population here would also assist in increasing inward investment and building on Irish talents.
The Fine Gael spokesman on Enterprise, Richard Bruton, said the plan was 'a set of rehashed, reheated old policies'.
He said the Government's jobs policy should be re-directed to keep the thousands of young people who are emigrating each month at home.
Labour's Willie Penrose said the plan was 'high on ambitious targets and very short on specifics as to how these might be achieved'.
