Enterprise Ireland is calling on entrepreneurs to get in touch with a view to helping them develop businesses with export potential. Visitors to the west of Ireland are particularly being targeted this Christmas with Seamus Bree Director West Region, Enterprise Ireland, suggesting: “Visiting Ireland this Christmas? Then why not think about setting
up a business here.”
In an extended appeal highlighting all the benefits Ireland has to offer entrepreneurs, Mr Bree states: “Of the many people visiting home for Christmas this year, some may be thinking of starting a business in the overseas country where they currently live. If that business is focused on international markets, they may well be better off starting it here in the west.”
Adding that despite the fact Ireland has come through unprecedented challenges over the past two years, it has also enjoyed many business success stories with companies showing great energy and determination in seeking new markets abroad and starting and growing their business. Right now, a whole host of factors point clearly in the direction of Ireland as a great place to start a new export focused business, he said, adding: “Ireland is a highly entrepreneurial society, and current circumstances do not mean we are any less talented, creative, and ambitious. For any new business start up, the business environment now is really attractive – costs are competitive, staff are highly skilled, experienced, and motivated, new seed capital funds have increased the availability of finance for start ups, and there is a whole host of supports for potential entrepreneurs that help reduce the risk of starting a business. Enterprise Ireland is seeing a continuous flow of exciting new start-ups that benefit from a range of supports that are among the best available anywhere.
“The Enterprise Ireland regional office in Galway wants to hear from potential entrepreneurs who are looking at setting up an exporting business. Supports and guidance are there for all stages of the project, including financial support and business advisors, tax breaks, contacts and opening doors, mentoring, start up courses, year long incubation programmes that can include salary support, and quality enterprise space.
“In world competitive rankings, Ireland is right up there at the top. Ireland is seen as a very attractive place to do business, scoring highly across a range of indices including availability of skilled work force, productivity, corporate tax rate, and openness to new ideas, flexibility and adaptability,
“The evidence is clear about just how strong and resilient Irish companies and the Irish economy are in practice. Behind the scenes, many of Ireland’s exporters are doing very well indeed. Enterprise Ireland is forecasting that this year we will regain 70 per cent of export losses incurred in 2009. This is a remarkable achievement given the weak economic situation in most of Ireland’s key markets.
“World leading overseas companies continue to invest in Ireland, with recent announcements of major expansions by Facebook and HP, and the decision by online sports betting firm Betfair to set up in Ireland. Industry experts from outside Ireland see it as a great base for high tech start ups. The World Bank rates Ireland as the easiest place in the EU to start a business and one of the easiest in the world. We are also seeing an increasing interest by international venture capital funds in Irish investment opportunities.
“A particular advantage for start ups in the west is the campus incubator units at both GMIT Castlebar and NUI Galway. Their success rate with developing start ups is also enhanced by supporting the company skill base through their various ongoing research and development programmes.
“If you have family or friends overseas who may be thinking of starting a business, then make sure that they know just what Ireland has to offer. Point them to the web pages that Enterprise Ireland has set up for entrepreneurs based overseas (www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/Start-a-New-Business/Startups-from-Outside-Ireland/Startups-from-outside-Ireland.html ). You could be doing both them and your local community a favour. And if you yourself have an idea for an export focused start up why not contact Enterprise Ireland, Mervue Business Park, Galway, phone 091 735900, email [email protected]
