Enterprise Ireland has said its client companies achieved record levels of exports worth €15.2bn in 2011.
The State agency supports Irish-owned companies, as opposed to IDA Ireland, which helps foreign-owned groups.
At the launch of its annual report, Enterprise Ireland said employment levels in its client companies stabilised last year.
Full-time employment in the firms it supports stood at 141,228 by the end of the year. Juts over 9,000 jobs were created in 2011, while job losses were the lowest recorded in recent years.
The report reveals that Enterprise Ireland supported 93 new high-potential start-ups during the year and approved €20.4m in funding, while there were 19 follow-on investments in high-potential start-ups worth €3m.
During the year, 484 companies took part in 42 trade fairs and missions, Enterprise Ireland added.
On research and development, Enterprise Ireland said that 743 client companies engaged in significant R&D projects, spending over €100,000 a year.
The Technology Centre programme, which EI runs with IDA Ireland, was also expanded during the year with the launch of manufacturing and energy efficiency technology centres.
"The performance of Ireland's exporting sector in overseas markets in 2011 was remarkable in any context, but particularly against the backdrop of a global economic situation," commented Enterprise Ireland Chief Executive Frank Ryan.
The impact of this on the Irish economy is enormous, Mr Ryan added.
He said: "These companies are responsible for the direct and indirect employment of more than 300,000 people in every town and village in Ireland.
"Indigenous exporters also spent €18.3bn on goods and services in the Irish economy in 2011."
