By Business & Finance 
Enterprise Ireland today announced contracts by two Irish companies responding to opportunities in the highly competitive French cleantech and construction sectors.
Wastewater treatment systems manufacturer Tricel signed a contract with Rhone Alpes Assainissement, a supplier of environmental products made up of two companies which together provide sanitation solutions in micro and mini wastewater treatment plants and compact filters to the region.
Wood Energy Solutions (WES), based in Tipperary, manufacture biomass boilers and microCHP for the domestic and commercial sectors.
WES has expanded into mainland European markets through its joint venture company WOODCO – a joint venture between WES and Ecometis.
Principals in WOODCO are Irish, Swiss and French entrepreneurs, all with vast experience in biomass heating. Resulting from WOODCO contracts signed to date, seven new jobs have been created at WES in Ireland with a further 28 new positions anticipated over the next three years at their Tipperary headquarters.
An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD said: “I am delighted to congratulate the Irish companies here today on the progress they have made in generating new and significant export opportunities in France. France is Ireland’s sixth largest market for goods exports and our fifth largest for services exports, with nearly €10bn in total exports going from Ireland to France each year. As Tricel and Wood Energy Solutions have demonstrated, the opportunities for innovative Irish companies to do business in France are real and tangible.”
Marina Donohoe, director of UK and Northern Europe, Enterprise Ireland commented: “These contracts reflect Enterprise Ireland’s strategy to scale Irish exports to established markets like France. Exports of Irish-owned companies to France grew by 5% in 2014, reflecting the demand for the world-class goods and services which Irish companies have to offer. The achievements of these Irish companies clearly demonstrate that innovative and ambitious Irish exporters are performing extraordinarily well in a mature market like France where they face tough competition from both local players and other highly skilled economies.”
