Irish companies are set to complete deals with a potential value of €250 million in Japan over the next three days as part of an Enterprise Ireland and Government- led trade mission to the world's second biggest economy.

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin and Enterprise Ireland managing director Frank Ryan are leading the mission to Japan over the next three days.

Representatives of over 30 companies seeking to expand their presence in Japan or get a foothold there accompany them. The visit is the Minister's second since his appointment. He led his first mission to the far eastern country in November 2004.

Over the course of the three-day visit, Irish companies will announce details of deals with their Japanese counterparts that will deliver €250 million in sales over the next three years.

Japan is the world's second largest economy after the US. It has a population of 127 million and generated $4.7 trillion in wealth in 2004. The companies represented on the mission include Glen Dimplex, one of the Republic's biggest private firms, with sales in excess of €2 billion a year.

Glen Dimplex already has a strong presence in Japan. Others will include Dairygold Food Ingredients Ltd, part of the Cork based Dairygold agri-food co-op.

Other companies on the mission include ACT Venture Capital, Farran Technology, Fastnet Mussels Ltd, Parc Aviation, Altracel, Project Management and Kinvara Smoked Salmon. The Japan trade mission is part of a week-long visit to the Far East led by the Minister and Enterprise Ireland. Both he and the State agency are due to visit China later this week.

Enterprise Ireland is the State body charged with aiding the development of Irish companies.