IDA Ireland

Assistance and Support For New Business Investors

IDA Ireland work in close collaboration with their clients to ensure that they have the facilities, resources and connections essential for their business operations. They also maintain relationships in the future to ensure each company’s growth and prosperity in the Irish economy.

Background of Ireland's Economy

Ireland has re-invented itself over the last half century, offering an ideal base to set up your expanding operations. It continues to be an attractive choice of relocation and investment for a multitude of companies who choose Ireland as the pinnacle of their European networks due to its rich business environment, and overall winning combination of attributes, such as:

• Diverse, modern facilities offered by IDA Ireland Business and Technology Parks, to suit every business activity, situated throughout the country
• World-leading research institutes collaborating with industry partners on highly-focused RD&I programmes
• The Higher Education Authority, securing the steady pool of highly educated graduates and researchers
• Youthful, vibrant and highly-qualified workforce
• Low corporate tax
• Exceptional ITC and infrastructure
• High quality of life
• National characteristics – a charismatic, creative, innovative and flexible labour pool, producing excellent results across various sectors.

IDA Ireland

IDA Ireland (Industrial Development Agency) is Ireland’s inward investment promotion agency. The Irish Government established IDA Ireland in 1969 with the purpose of formalising the promotion and development of inward investment in Ireland.

The IDA is concentrating on securing investment in three main areas:

• Advanced Manufacturing
• Global Services
• Research, Development & Innovation

These activities are thriving across the sectors of Life sciences, ICT, Creative Industries, Public Sector and Consumer Products.

Forward-thinking sectors that we are developing include:

• Clean Technology
• Sevices Innovation
• Convergance

Ireland continues to be a highly attractive location, gaining FDI from businesses already established here, as well as from new companies.

Investment Highlights, 2009

• We won 125 foreign direct investments
• Since 2008, the number of new companies investing in Ireland for the first time increased by 11%
• 49% of the year’s investments were in RD&I, amounting to an excess of €500m, and showing a 10 % increase in investments compared to 2008.
• 69% of investments was generated by existing companies
• The creation of more than 4,500 new jobs – in just 2009 alone.
• Exports from IDA client businesses increased to €110bn

Nearly 1,000 companies – many of which are household brands – have chosen to locate their European operations in Ireland, because of the unique situation and combination of attributes it can offer.

Ireland ranked 11th globally out of 82 countries, as one of the most attractive business locations in the world, according to the 2008-2012 Business Environment Ranking of the Economist Intelligence Unit.

Key Attractions to Investors

• Politically stable Nation, with a well-respected regulatory regime
• Flourishing RD&I sector, with strong Government backing to support productive alliances between industry and academia
• Reinforced legal framework for development, exploitation and protection of Intellectual Property rights
• Easy access to the EMEA region, due to its strategic position
• Exceptional ICT skills and infrastructure
• Advanced telecommunications infrastructure, with optical networks delivering international connectivity
• Industry clusters of leading international companies in the sectors of Life Sciences, ICT, Creative Industries Engineering, and Consumer Products
• Well established business hub, with excellent connections to EMEA