A Dublin telecoms firm is to open an office in Saudi Arabia with the creation of 40 jobs.
Vilicom made the announcement during a top-level trade mission to the Middle East led by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
The new office in Riyadh will create 40 jobs and is expected to take a frontline position in the roll-out of 3G technology in the kingdom, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin said.
Vilicom, which is based in Park West off the M50 motorway, will be the first company to open a 100 per cent Irish-owned base in Saudi Arabia.
The Minister noted that the five-day cross-border trade mission will see almost 120 Irish firms establishing valuable links in the region which should result in a major increase in trade, exports and jobs.
The mission, organised by Enterprise Ireland, will bring 170 employers from 114 firms to Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Enterprise Ireland believes Irish companies have the potential to take increased Middle East market share in many key sectors, particularly telecommunications, IT, construction, banking, public sector/utilities and education and e-learning services.
In 2005, Irish firms exported €152 million worth of goods and services to the Middle East - where more than 320 million people live across 15 countries.