The Minister for Small Business, John Perry, has started a four-day trade mission with 25 Irish companies to the Czech Republic and 37 companies to Poland.
The Minister will attend 16 trade events, business meetings and corporate networking events in Prague and Warsaw during the next four days in the Enterprise Ireland organised event.
The trade mission will promote the capabilities of Irish companies in the engineering, electronics and software sectors to multinational companies based in the Czech Republic and Poland.
The Irish companies include high-growth start-ups and medium-sized firms in sectors including ICT, high-tech manufacturing, construction and financial services.
Up to 11 contracts are expected to be signed by these Irish companies with Czech and Polish firms during the next four says.
'‘Poland and the Czech Republic are key target markets for Irish companies operating in the ICT, high-tech manufacturing, construction and financial services sectors. As the economies in these markets continue to grow, so too do the opportunities for Irish companies to deepen their involvement in these markets and win new business,'' commented Minister Perry.
Exports of Irish-owned companies to the Czech Republic rose by 65% over the past five years to nearly €50m in 2012, while total exports from Ireland to Czech Republic exceed €600m.
Poland is a top ten export destination for Enterprise Ireland client companies, who exported €300m of goods and
services to this market in 2012. 30% of exports from Ireland to Poland are from indigenous Irish companies across a range of sectors.
