Enterprise Ireland, the Irish government’s trade and innovation agency announced that client exports reached a record €34.57bn in 2023, a new record for Irish exporters, supported by the Agency. Overall non-food exports increased by 8%.
In Australia and New Zealand, exports reached €464,977,000 in 2023, a 6% growth for the region from 2022, and a 47% growth since 2020.
Individually, Australia saw a 4% growth in overall exports from Enterprise Ireland client companies, while exports to New Zealand increased by 13%.
The biggest growth sectors in the Australia and New Zealand region were Technology and Services exports which grew by 27% since the previous year, and the Industrial and Lifesciences sector which increased by 21% in the same timeframe.
Lydia Rogers, Director, Australia/ New Zealand of Enterprise Ireland noted: “We are very proud of the impact that Enterprise Ireland client companies are having on the Australian and New Zealand economies by bringing their innovative products and services to the market, increasing local business competitiveness and improving customer experiences and investing in the local economies through employment and the associated costs of doing business here.
“Enterprise Ireland clients such as OneView Healthcare and Fineos who are both ASX listed, and Portwest, Fexco and XOCEAN continue to expand their presence in the region and enjoy great success here.”
Despite the location and distance from Ireland, every year we see the trade relationship between Ireland and the region grow even stronger as is evidenced in these newly released figures . After closer markets to home such as UK, North America and Europe, this region is a significant market for Irish companies. Demand for Irish innovation, particularly Technology and Services; Industrial Technologies and Lifesciences solutions, is at an all-time high here, with these sectors experiencing double digit growth – ahead of the global average. There is huge potential in this region for Irish companies to scale and grow.
Enterprise Ireland client companies spent €39.3bn in the Irish economy in 2023, including €11.7bn on payroll.
Welcoming the results, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke T.D, said: “Across a variety of sectors and international markets, Irish exporters have made significant gains and continue to grow their influence internationally, despite a more challenging international business environment and rising costs. Irish exporters are a critical component of the Irish economy, and the government is committed to supporting this sector to scale to further heights in the years ahead.”
Leo Clancy, CEO of Enterprise Ireland, said: “Today’s results reflect the ambition and tenaciousness of Irish entrepreneurs, who with the support of Enterprise Ireland’s team are scaling internationally at an accelerated pace, with strong gains in key sectors, markets, and sales growth by clients.
“Overall, Industrial, Lifesciences and Construction exports have surpassed €10bn exports and reflective of the calibre of Irish software being produced, we would expect Technology and International Services exports will also reach that €10bn milestone.
“Our mission is to accelerate Ireland’s economy with robust job growth and export gains worldwide. As we focus on business growth and expansion, sustainability, productivity, and digitalisation will be high on our agenda.”
About us:
Enterprise Ireland is the Irish government’s enterprise development agency. We invest in and support the development of Irish-owned companies on their journey to achieving greater scale and to become global leaders in their field. This provides a platform for strong economic growth and creating and sustaining jobs in communities around the country.
Our teams in Ireland and across our network of 39 international offices help Irish companies to develop high-growth strategies and to enter new markets with innovative and sustainable solutions. www.enterprise-ireland.com
Contact details:
Louise Nealon, Louise Nealon PR, louise@louisenealon.com, 0403 569 177