Inspectors from multinationals eye up Galway
Thirteen potential multinational investors visited Galway in the first six months of this year with a view to setting up base here.
It suggests the number of potential international employers visiting the city and county this year will far surpass the numbers who visited here last year.
Jobs Minister Richard Bruton confirmed that decision makers at 13 multi-national companies visited IDA sites in Galway between January and June.
The company executives toured sites in Galway where they may establish a base.
Last year, in 2013, a total of 18 potential investors visited Galway for the same purpose. This year should show a big increase on that figure if the numbers of investors continue to visit here in the second half of 2014 as they did in the first six months.
According to the data, however, more potential investors visited Dublin (144), Cork (26) and Limerick (15) than Galway.
Between January and June, Minister Bruton said a total of 250 visits by potential investors took place nationwide, with over half viewing Dublin.
Minister Bruton said 2013 was one of the best years in terms of IDA-supported jobs created and already this year is on course to be a bumper year.
“IDA Ireland’s mid-year results show that over 100 investments were secured in the first six months of 2014, compared to 70 at the same time last year,” Minister Bruton said.
“Of the investments secured, 40% have come from companies investing in Ireland for the first time, with the remainder represented by extensions and transformations by existing companies. The projects approved during the first half of 2014 will lead to the creation of 8,000 jobs this year and over future years as the companies roll out their investment plans.”
The figures show that the numbers employed in IDA-supported jobs in Galway have risen by more than 1,000 in the past three years.
In 2011 there were 10,349 employed in IDA companies here; that grew to 10,910 in 2012; and it jumped by more than 500 the following year to 11,430 for 2013.
Last year, a total of 13,367 new jobs were created in IDA Ireland client companies and 164 investments were won.
Of the 164 investments, 78 came from companies investing in Ireland for the first time, with 59 expansions and 27 research, development and innovation projects.
There are now over 166,000 people directly employed in IDA Ireland client companies nationwide, the highest number in the history of the agency.