Two Dublin firms have secured major deals during Ireland's "largest ever" Trade Mission to South Africa, according to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Micheal Martin.

Fifty Irish companies are participating.

Speaking in Johannesburg Minister Martin confirmed that Dublin based recruitment firm SAON Group has taken over one of South Africa's biggest websites and is to re-launch it from new offices.

Every trade mission has to have its pre-arranged announcements but given Minister Martin's tendency to use superlatives often, the use of the word "major" does not necessarily imply significance. As with a Monday announcement when the word "major" was also used, no values or estimates have been provided.

The site advertises 15,000 jobs each month. Following the take-over SAON is revamping the business and has used the Trade Mission to open new offices. The company, which has 30 employees, already operates recruitment sites in Ireland, the US and Canada which are visited by 10.5 million jobseekers a month.

Martin also announced that Swords based software firm In1 Solutions' has secured a deal that will see its products playing a major role in solving accommodation problems during the World Cup in 2010.

The company uses Irish expertise to provide software for hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts. The Swords company already has 2,500 customers worldwide which are served from its Dublin base and has used this trade mission to open offices in Port Elizabeth.

Welcoming the announcements Minister Martin said both Irish companies are now well positioned to provide essential services during the World Cup and into the future in this important African Market.

"These companies are perfect examples of the type of expertise Ireland can offer South Africa and its neighbours, a market of an estimated 185 million people."  

"With announcements such as these it is clear that existing Irish exports to South Africa of €300 million a year can be increased. I am confident that with the support of Enterprise Ireland, which organised this mission, we will see other announcements as we visit both Johannesburg and Pretoria over the next two days."

"I want to wish SOAN and In1 Solutions every success in their new ventures", concluded the Minister.