The organisation responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprises has opened more offices in Eurozone countries.
The new Enterprise Ireland operations in France and Germany are a "key Brexit response", the body says.
The opening of the new offices in Lyon and Munich will see additional personnel and investment in the Eurozone.
This area is the second largest market for Enterprise Ireland clients, seeing an increase in exports of 8% to €4.8bn in 2018.
Representatives from 25 Irish companies with strong ties to Munich were also in attendance on Thursday, along with their German counterparts.
Enterprise Ireland says the opening of the new office in Munich will support the growth and collaboration of Irish and German companies particularly in the areas of industrial, life sciences, IT and automotive industries.
The Irish State agency has had a presence in Dusseldorf since 1962.
Very productive visit to @LMU_Muenchen’s Entrepreneurship Centre to share experiences and discuss possibilities for working together in the future 🇮🇪🇩🇪 @Entirl @irlembberlin pic.twitter.com/ayaKdUa0kI
— Heather Humphreys (@HHumphreysFG) November 28, 2019
The Lyon office was officially opened on Wednesday in what is known as France's most 'business friendly' city.
It will support Irish companies to expand into the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region - and particularly in the areas of life sciences, clean technologies and engineering.
The Enterprise Ireland Paris office was first opened in 1968.
Speaking from Munich, Business Minister Heather Humphreys said: "It is one of seven new offices that the Government is funding in key markets worldwide, as part of our overseas strategy, Global Ireland 2025, which aims to double our international impact.
"Market diversification has never been more important than it is now with Brexit on the horizon.
"Germany is our biggest export market in the Eurozone but there is scope to do more. For this reason, the Government is committed to strengthening our mutually-beneficial relationship even further."
Speaking during a visit to France and Germany this week, Enterprise Ireland CEO Julie Sinnamon said: "This week's office openings in Lyon and Munich align with Enterprise Ireland's market diversification strategy which sees the agency significantly expanding our existing overseas office network.
"This strategy aims to support Irish companies in expanding their reach into new markets and to scale their exports into the Eurozone in preparation for the post-Brexit era."
