Enterprise Ireland has announced three important sales contracts by client companies responding to opportunities in the French Cleantech and Construction sectors. The announcement was made at a business event in Paris by President Michael D. Higgins as part of an official visit organised by the Irish Embassy in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Bord Bia and Network Irlande. Irish companies AMCS (Co. Limerick), Anua (part of the Bord na Mona Group) and Cork Plastics signed contracts to the value of €1.5 million with three French companies. Speaking at the event President Higgins said: “We know that innovation and entrepreneurship are vital for Irish economic recovery and growth; and that people who are willing to innovate, to take chances and to turn ideas into reality are the people we need to lead our economy to recovery and growth.   I would like to congratulate the Irish companies here today on the progress they have made in generating new and significant export opportunities in France”. AMCS, headquartered in Limerick, develops integrated environmental software and solutions for the recycling and waste management industry. The company secured a contract with SIRTOM de Sedan, a group of local authorities in the Ardennes Region that manage the collection, recycling and treatment of household waste in over 44 cities. SIRTOM de Sedan is implementing ‘pay as you throw’ (PAYT) legislation for domestic waste collection charging in France. The local authorities will use the collection data from the AMCS technology to measure the amount of recycling taking place to generate invoices for residents. Along with use of RFID technology to track and determine the identity of the bin being collected, SIRTOM will make use of features such as GPS to monitor collection operations. Since mid 2012, AMCS has created four jobs in Ireland and have plans to create a further 10 over the coming 18 months. Anua, part of the Bord na Mona Group, and their French partner L’Eau Pure, signed their first contract with SIAAP, a large municipal authority which provides waste water treatment for almost 12 million inhabitants in the greater Parisian area. The €400,000 contract is for the refurbishment of odour control units at Seire Aval, in the Paris area. Cork Plastics is a manufacturer and supplier of PVC products and services to the agricultural, construction and building sectors. They have signed a partnership agreement with Sarl Duluc, a specialised building merchant. Under the agreement, SARL Duluc will purchase €1 million of Cork Plastics PVC facia and cladding. Congratulating the companies on their success, Frank Ryan, CEO of Enterprise Ireland, said: “France is the third largest export market for Irish companies and a significant trading partner with Ireland. The announcement of these contracts reflects Enterprise Ireland’s strategy to further scale our bilateral trade and exports to established markets like France. Exports of Irish-owned companies to France grew by 14% in 2011 reflecting the demand for the world class goods and services which Irish companies have to offer.”