Further signs of Ireland's economic conditions improving have been seen, according to the country's trade and commerce minister.

Billy Kelleher declared that the latest merchandise trade figures are indicative of the nation recovering from the global downturn and "a reversal of the negative trend for the earlier months of the year".

He pointed out that data for August 2010 reveals exports rose over the month by 13 per cent compared with the same period the previous year, while imports were up by 12 per cent.

Mr Kelleher noted exports also rose year-on-year by 12 per cent in July, improving from a fall of six per cent between January and April this year compared with 2009.

"The latest figures demonstrate the resilience of Irish exporters in difficult times and vindicate the government's investment in export-led economic recovery," he declared.

Elsewhere, in a recent speech to mark the tenth anniversary of Science Foundation Ireland, enterprise, trade and innovation minister Batt O'Keeffe announced the science agency had supported over 600 partnerships between researchers and businesses last year to generate high-quality jobs in the country.

Posted by Alex Donnell