Winning Combination

Ireland is a small country that has re-invented itself over the last forty years through the combined force of sheer determination and growing, vibrant ambition.  Its young, highly educated workforce has seized the opportunity provided by Foreign Direct Investment and has put its shoulder to the wheel to transform Ireland into a dynamic, knowledge based economy for the 21st century.

Multinational corporations that originally located here because of our low corporate tax and pro-business environment have, time and again, expanded their activities in Ireland because of the positive attitude of the Irish workforce.  Inherent national characteristics for which the Irish are renowned the world over - creativity, imagination, flexibility and application – have produced exceptional results for MNCs in every business sector.

For Irish workers, management and Government agencies, securing new FDI is just the beginning of a long partnership in which they play a pro-active role.  Irish management takes a forward-thinking approach to the MNC business, anticipating market developments and coming up with great ideas to make the most of new opportunities.  That’s how so many Irish MNC teams have advanced up the value chain of their parent companies to take on higher value, knowledge intensive activities.

Today, IDA Ireland is focused on securing investment in three key areas: High Value Manufacturing, Global Services and RD&I.  These activities are thriving across all the business sectors in which Ireland has built up a concentration of knowledge and expertise: Life Sciences, ICT, Services, Digital Media and Consumer Brands. 

With our eyes fixed on the future, we’re also developing the exciting, emerging areas of Clean Technology, Services Innovation and Convergence. In doing this we are showing our readiness to embrace and capitalise on emerging technologies and innovations. 

These are turbulent times for the global economy and Ireland has not escaped the impact.  It’s clear that there will be lasting changes to the global economic, regulatory and business environment.  The challenge now is to regroup, reassess and reposition Ireland and our MNC partners so that together, we are poised to take advantage of the recovery that will come. 

Ireland is ready, able and willing to help our MNC partners invent their futures.
 

Despite the challenging economic environment of recent times, IDA Ireland continues to win investment in Ireland across core business sectors. Ireland continues to be highly attractive to foreign direct investment, both from companies with operations established here and from new companies.  Highlights of the past year include:

Ireland is using its growing status as a knowledge-based economy to open new doors and avenues for investors. The sharp increase in RD&I projects is proof of our success and confidence in this area and its excellent fit with the Irish business and academic landscape.

Investment highlights 2009:

• A total of 125 foreign direct investments won
• New companies investing in Ireland for the first time up 11% on 2008
• Investments in Research, Development & Innovation (RD&I) in excess of €500m
  - 49% of investments were RD&I
• 69% of investments from existing companies
• Over 4,500 new jobs were created in 2009
• Exports from IDA client companies increased to €110bn