Irish companies have announced 21 business deals in the Gulf region this week that are expected to be worth €65 million and lead to the hiring of 95 people.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny said an Enterprise Ireland trade mission to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, which draws to a close today, had been "highly successful".
“Irish companies have been steadily increasing their export footprint across the Gulf region and there can be no doubt that the success of this mission will go a long way to seeing that Irish exports continue to grow,” he said.
Co Mayo based clothing manufacturer Portwest said it expected to take on 50 staff as it expanded into the Middle East and Africa.
Mr Kenny and Minister for Enterprise Richard Bruton attended the opening of a new 70,000 sq ft Glenbeigh Records Management office in Dubai today and the company said it intended to add an additional 25 staff to its operations in Dublin.
Crowley Carbon, which provides energy efficiency solutions, has signed a deal worth some €20 million with facilities management firm Emrill in Dubai and plans to take on 20 more staff in Dublin.
Dublin firm Ezetop inked a deal with the largest retail bank in the Middle East, Al Rajhi Bank to provide software that enables the bank's customers to buy international top ups in over 500 branches, 3,300 ATMs and 27,000 points of sale.
A total of 87 companies travelled to the Gulf region for the trade mission.
During the mission, Mr Kenny met a number of Gulf state financial agencies with a view to encouraging them to invest in Irish infrastructure projects and bonds and provide credit facilities for small and medium sized businesses.
