The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O'Keeffe, has began a week-long trade mission to the Middle East with 45 Irish firms aimed at landing lucrative deals and creating jobs at home.

The Enterprise Ireland trade mission to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates is the latest foreign trip led by the Government to boost exports and grow indigenous Irish firms.

The trade mission begins in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam in Saudi Arabia before moving on to Abu Dhabi in the UAE.

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The 45 Irish firms joining Minister O'Keeffe on the trade mission span a range of sectors including construction, engineering, information communications technology, education, finance and consulting.

Minister O'Keeffe described the trade mission as "an important opportunity to promote Irish firms and generate new business opportunities and jobs here at home".

"The Government's overriding policy priority is the protection and creation of jobs.

"We will use this trade mission to help Irish firms to land deals with companies in the Middle East and showcase the high-quality innovative products and services produced by our indigenous enterprises."

More than 70 Irish firms are doing business in Saudi Arabia and 20 have a full-time market presence in the country.

(CD)