Mr John Perry TD, Minister for Small Business is to commence a week-long Enterprise Ireland trade mission to Australia. The aim of the mission is to develop Irish software and services exports to Australia and includes 45 firms from technology sectors including IT & mobility, telecommunications, e-learning, financial services and e-health. Speaking about the mission, the Minister stated that it “is focused on opening up opportunities for the Irish companies in this key growth sector to help them develop the potential in the Australian market, and secure export sales that will grow their businesses at home. ”

As part of Enterprise Irelands upcoming schedule, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard  Bruton  TD will  lead a trade mission next week to the Southern States of the US. Trade missions to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Quatar, and South Africa are also planned to take place between now and the end of the year.

Education

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Training and Skills, Ciaran Cannon TD also begins an official visit to Malaysia and Singapore, the primary goal of which is to sign a new education agreement with the Ministry of Higher Education in Malaysia.

The Government has set a target to double the number of international students coming to Ireland by 2016 and as Malaysia is one of our most important international education partners and so “this new agreement will allow us to expand that co-operation into other disciplines including in areas of interest to the Malaysian authorities, where Ireland has strong capabilities such as biotech and green tech” the Minister has said.