Companies supported by Enterprise Ireland achieved increased export sales totalling €14 billion in 2010 - but employed 5,300 fewer people.
The figures were revealed in Enterprise Ireland's annual report for last year, published today.
137,241 people were directly employed in Enterprise Ireland client firms last year - down 5,355 on the 2009 figure.
The agency estimates that the total number of people at work in Enterprise Ireland client companies - both full-time and part-time - was 156,577.
Of the €14 billion in export sales, €1.95 billion were new sales. The agency described this as a strong performance involving the recovery of 70% of exports lost in 2009.
Export growth was particularly strong in the food sector which grew by 11%. Other sectors improving their exports include life sciences, clean technology, electronics, engineering, construction and timber, education services and software.
Enterprise Ireland invested seed capital in 80 start-up enterprises, which it claims have the potential to create 770 new jobs within the next three years.
Enterprise Ireland is the state agency responsible for the development of Irish companies and increasing irish exports. Its chairman Hugh Cooney described the bounce back in exports as 'truly remarkable'.
