Limerick city’s image is a “stumbling block” for foreign investment
Limerick city's image is a stumbling block for foreign investment
THE biggest stumbling block in securing foreign direct investment in the Limerick region is the image of the city according to IDA Ireland’s regional manager Sean Denvir.
While Limerick is, according to Mr Denvir, a “proven location” for FDI with many of the world’s largest companies having significant operations in the region, if he could, he said, he would “wave a magic wand” to create “a really vibrant, alive city centre buzzing day and night”.
His comments came during an IDA presentation to members of Limerick County Council when he was asked by Cllr Stephen Keary for his honest opinion on what were the biggest stumbling blocks preventing foreign direct investment in this region.
Mr Denvir, who is the IDA regional manager of the Mid-West region, said he was “a glass half full kind of person” so he found the question difficult.
“If I was to pick one it would be the image and the development of the city,” he admitted.
“I think great things are happening now in terms of the unification of the local authorities etc. If I could wave a magic wand I would love to see a really vibrant, alive city centre buzzing day and night. I would like to see a place with activity happening and new investment, a place spic-and-span and really attractive to people coming here,” he continued.
The meeting heard how Limerick is marketed internationally as a city of 90,000 people and as the third city in Ireland.
“We have a fantastic base of foreign direct investment companies in Limerick and the Mid-West region already,” continued Mr Denvir who said the region had a lot going for it in terms of education and demographics.
“In terms of third level colleges, it is a very, very good educational centre. There are 450,000 people living within a one hour commute of Limerick,” he added.
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Weather for Limerick
Wednesday 23 May 2012
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Temperature: 11 C to 19 C
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Wind direction: South east
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Comments
There are 3 comments to this article
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Victor Mildrew
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 02:22 PMYawn, the LCC and IDA are great talkers but non achievers. How many years is it now since either created one job in the city? We need to appoint some savvy fresh faces to both organisations and remove the flannel packers. God, when asked for his biggest wish, it's to make the city centre sexy! Try locking up the scum that plague it at night, send the beggars back to Romania, Make the city property owners lean up their facades and then you might get somewhere. FFS we have to pay for this clowns to meet and come up with nonsense. He describes Limerick as a "very very good educational centre" Laughable really, if it was, we would not have 50000 early school leavers in the county over the past 10 years who now have no future prospects whatsoever, and let's face it, The university is renowned for nothing! Can someone show this man the real city ffs!
Paddymog
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 08:30 PMThere are a lot of skobes walking around in it that could do with a spell in jail too.
captainjames
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 06:53 PMThere are alot of areas in the city centre that could use a serious lick o paint
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