A trade mission to China led by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, is expected to generate deals worth tens of millions of euro this week in the biggest trade trip of its kind to leave from the Republic.
Two firms - including food group Kerry - are poised to open new factories in China to take advantage of the extremely low cost of manufacturing goods in the world's fastest-growing major economy.
The mission will visit Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, and focus on a range of industries such as software, food and manufacturing. It will also target the fast-growing education sector in Ireland, which is worth about €300 million per year.
Chinese students are now the biggest overseas entrants to Irish colleges. Up to 25,000 Chinese attend English-language schools in the State and a further 2,900 students attend third-level colleges and universities.
Twenty-nine Irish third-level institutes and private colleges are taking part in the trade mission, which will be joined by the Minister for Education, Ms Hanafin.