A three day trade mission to France has secured contracts and alliances worth €17.6m across a wide range of business sectors, including the agri-technology and cleantech sectors.
The trade mission was part of Enterprise Ireland's ongoing intensive programme of overseas events to help Irish companies expand their presence in export markets.
This will, in turn, lead to job creation in Ireland.
Among the agreements reached over the last three days was a €9.7m deal for Oldcastle based Dromone with largest exporter of agricultural products Massey Ferguson, while Tralee's Dairymaster signed a new deal with animal reproduction and genetics company Genes Diffusion.
Waterford based FLI Group won a contract valued at €1.3m with Seche Environment, one of the largest waste management companies in France, while Killarney Plastics signed a deal with AJ Environment for €1m for the installation and maintenance of micro waste water treatment systems in the company.
Among the other Irish companies winning new business was Glennon Brothers, Dublin Aerospace, Interactive Services, Samco, LSM Engineering, AMCS and C&C Green Energy.
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation said the trade mission was highly successful and very important in deepening Ireland's trade and economic times in the euro zone.
''Two way trade between the two countries is running at record levels and there is a clear opportunity for further substantial growth over the coming years,'' Minister Richard Bruton said.
''The success of the dynamic companies I met on this trade mission gives me great confidence that we can continue to build on our export performance and create a strong engine of indigenous business to drive the jobs recovery we need,'' the Minister added.
The mission to France was assisted by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and by the Irish Embassy in Paris. Tourism Ireland, Bord Bia and IDA Ireland also took part in the trade mission.
