Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin will today announce the creation of more than 300 jobs in the Shannon Free Zone.

The jobs, to be announced at US e-commerce firm Digital River, follow the announcement of 285 new jobs at Halifax Insurance Ireland and Sykes Enterprises - companies already established in the Shannon Free Zone - last June.

Currently employing a small number, Digital River, which builds and manages online businesses for more than 40,000 software manufacturers, distributors and online retailers, has already announced its presence in Shannon on its company website.

The company is also establishing a European subsidiary in Luxembourg and Digital River's chief executive Joel Ronning said in a statement on the company's website: "The launch of our European subsidiaries represents an important part of our long-term strategy to extend our global footprint."

Digital River Ireland's office will oversee e-commerce activity outside the US. It will also support a combination of client and corporate functions, including sales, client services, human resources, finance, customer service, fraud prevention and IT.

Digital River senior vice-president of global operations Tim McCauley said: "Shannon Development has been very supportive and has provided a favourable business climate for us to grow our international operations." The company employs 1,000 people worldwide and reported net sales in 2005 of $220 million (€172 million).

The Government recently decided to allow the agency to retain control of the promotion of Shannon Free Zone to overseas investors, reversing an earlier proposal. Fianna Fáil Senator Brendan Daly last night described the anticipated announcement as further endorsement of Shannon Development's work in the region and the Shannon Free Zone.