Waterford is among the areas set for a Foreign and Direct Investment (FDI) boost as outlined in a new IDA Ireland jobs strategy published this week.
The city and county, which has over 14,500 people currently on the Live Register, has been earmarked to benefit from the IDA’s new ‘Horizon 2020’ strategy.
Launched by Tánaiste Mary Coughlan on Tuesday, Horizon 2020 paves the way for greater balanced regional development, as committed to by the Government under the National Spatial Strategy (NSS).
“IDA will ensure that by 2014, 50 per cent of FDI projects will be located outside of Dublin and Cork,” the report states.
“In line with the Government’s NSS, IDA will make smart use of its property portfolio in regions targeted for investment. We will work with local authorities to make potential sites as attractive as possible for investors.”
The report adds: “IDA believes success in winning FDI for the regions also requires constant vigilance on competitiveness.
“Local authority charges, land and industrial property prices must not be a barrier to investment.”
The report has been welcomed on the local political front, with Deputy Mayor Davy Daniels among those pleased with the development.
See The Munster Express newspaper for full story.
