The Minister for Public Expenditure, Jack Chambers, has described Co. Monaghan as a "county defined by entrepreneurial spirit".
The Minister visited the county last week, to meet business throughout the county.
He said that the SMEs and startups in the county are some of Ireland's largest exporters, and the county is defined by the ambition to grow, to create jobs, and to build and achieve more.
In a post on social media, Ministe Chambers said that equally the county can be hugely proud of its social entrepreneurs who support so much community development and trailblazers in the circular economy who have already achieved incredible success.