Irish software executives are in Australia and New Zealand this week in a bid to secure new business in these markets.
Irish IT firms already do business worth €185 million with Australia's software industry. Australia has a highly-developed financial services sector and Enterprise Ireland is targeting it as a key gateway to the Asian-Pacific markets.
Several Irish firms are taking part in a series of networking events in Australia beginning with a showcase seminar in Sydney today. Ireland is now in the world's top three producers and exporters of software and 800 firms generate more than €12 billion in export revenue for the economy.
Irish Software Association chairman Patrick Brazel is one of the keynote speakers at the today's Expanding Business Horizons event at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney.
Mr Brazel has been involved in growing hi-tech companies like SunGard Capital Markets, Eontec, Sentry Financial Systems and Polarlake. Irish Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand Mairtin O'Fainin will also be a keynote speaker at the event.
Enterprise Ireland said that Ireland is now a knowledge economy and Irish companies are building a worldwide reputation for delivering innovative high technology services.
"Australia's highly developed financial services market and gateway position for the Asia-Pacific has created an extremely attractive destination for leading Irish software companies," an Enterprise Ireland spokeswoman said.
"We hope to foster potential partnerships between leading Irish software solution providers and Australian financial institutions." Australian IT firms attending the seminar and other networking events this week include Daon Australia, Norkom Technologies, Trintech, Monex Financial Services and Sentenial.