ARTICLE · 05 SEPTEMBER 2012

Ireland’s Four Cornerstones Of Competitiveness

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2011 proved to be a record year for foreign direct investment ("FDI") in Ireland.

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2011 proved to be a record year for foreign direct investment ("FDI") in Ireland. Over 148 investments were made during the year with an increase of 30% in the number of overseas companies investing in Ireland for the first time. 2012 has continued in a similar vein with over 5,000 jobs created by multinational companies in the first six months of the year.

A recent study of global investors undertaken by the Economist's Intelligence Unit (EIU) on behalf of Matheson Ormsby Prentice has identified four cornerstones of competitiveness underpinning Ireland's continuing attractiveness for FDI: ready access to EU markets; a sophisticated corporate tax infrastructure; a talented, English-speaking workforce; and a business-orientated legal and regulatory framework. Maintaining these four cornerstones will be key if Ireland is to remain one of the top global inward investments locations.

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