Western Development Commission
Key Competitive Attractions
The West Region is governed by the West Regional Authority, and covers the counties of Galway, Mayo and Roscommon, but Western Development Commission also covers the counties of Leitrim, Sligo and Donegal in the Border Region, as well as County Clare in the Mid-West Region.
The main industrial, commercial and cultural centre of the region is Galway City - the 5th largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. The main sectors of the region including manufacturing, tourism, logistics and distribution, maritime and shipping, education, healthcare, financial services, construction, and professional services.
Almost half of those employed in Galway work in financial or professional services sector, and just under a fifth work in manufacturing.
Since the ‘Celtic Tiger’ boom, the majority of industry in the region is hi-tech, such as ICT, medical equipment, electronics, and chemicals.
Tourism is also a major importance to the region, and the WDC has set up several successful initiatives to maintain its level of strength.
Galway houses two higher education institutions: the National University of Ireland, Galway and the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology.
Assistance and Support For New Business Investors
The Western Development Commission (WDC) is the only government commissioned agency that proactively develops and facilitates strategies at a regional level.
The WDC is currently investing in projects relating to:
- Creative Industries
- ICT
- Life Sciences
- Medical Devices
- Manufacturing
- Tourism
- Renewable Energy
- Community
