A five-day trade and investment mission to Australia by more than 30 Irish companies has begun.

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Investment Richard Bruton is leading the joint Enterprise Ireland/IDA mission, which will include more than 40 high-level meetings and events.

A total of 32 companies from the financial services, elearning, telecommunications and IT for Healthcare sectors are participating on the mission to Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney.

Australia is the world’s 12th largest economy, with an estimated US$1.5 trillion GDP.

“The economic relationship between Ireland and Australia is stronger now than at any time in our history. It is a relationship based on delivering two-way trade of more than $2.8billion per annum,” said Mr Bruton ahead of the mission.

"There are over 140 Enterprise Ireland client companies actively doing business in Australia as well as 35 Australian companies in Ireland employing over 1,600 people. I am confident that during the intensive programme of activities this week we can build on that strong relationship and support more trade and crucially more jobs in Ireland," he added.