ON Wednesday, Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Brian Cowen announced a series of contracts between several Enterprise Ireland clients and their U.S. customers totaling more than $18 million at a breakfast at the New York Stock Exchange. The event, co-hosted by Enterprise Ireland and the NYSE Euronext, was attended by more than 200 guests that included Enterprise Ireland client representatives and their U.S. customers.Some of the Irish companies making announcements last week included Realtime Technologies (EMS and integrated supply chain solutions), Cram Software (SEM software solutions), VigiTrust (IT security), Cartoon Saloon (animation and illustration design studio), Advanced Innovations (OEM electronics manufacturing and supply chain services); and ValidSoft (financial software).Cowen, commenting on the new contracts said, "Enterprise Ireland invests in over 70 Irish start-ups annually and these companies are now winning key reference sites in the U.S. due to their innovative technologies and services."Irish companies now employ over 80,000 people across the U.S. spanning over 50 states, 10 times more than a decade ago. In 2007, 47 Irish companies opened a U.S. office and more than 50 Irish companies were in New York."The United States is a priority market for Ireland's fast-growing high-tech sector and the profile of Irish-owned companies selling into the U.S. has changed in a big way. The growth in quality Irish consumer product sales has been matched and subsequently outpaced by a surge in Irish industrial products and services in ICT, the life sciences and other high-technology sectors," said Cowen.Tom Cusack, director of the Americas for Enterprise Ireland said last week, "The companies announcing contracts are demonstrating the leadership and innovation that is a prerequisite for growth in this substantial market. They have an underlying resilience and a tenacity to continue to win new business despite the difficulties posed by the euro/dollar exchange rate".Following the breakfast Cowen rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange. Later, he met with Enterprise Ireland's North American Financial Services Advisory Board. Cowen also presented the Meitheal Award to David Harnett, who leads the operations function of Microsoft's new Start-up Business Accelerator (SBA) group. Meitheal is the Irish name for a work group and the award is presented to key individuals who have significantly helped Irish companies by donating their time and expertise to guide them through the U.S. market.