The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, chaired the first Regional Enterprise Forum in Athlone last week.
The forum in Athlone forms a key part of the development of a Regional Enterprise Strategy. As part of the Action Plan for Jobs, Minister Bruton is driving a process to develop and implement a Regional Enterprise Strategy to support job creation across the country. The framework strategy is expected to be published early in the new year.
The first Regional Enterprise Strategy will be rolled out in the Midlands, before being rolled out in other regions. The forum which took place last Friday, December 19 in Athlone was attended by approximately 100 people from public sector bodies, industry, and other local stakeholders. In addition to Enterprise Ireland and IDA client companies being present, companies working in the domestic economy also attended.
The Regional Enterprise Strategy for the Midlands will include specific actions and targets on the part of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs ), and other public bodies to promote enterprise growth and job creation in the region.
Friday’s event was aimed at harnessing local bodies’ work in the job creation areas, and supporting them to develop new ideas, propose actions, collaborate, provide leadership and ultimately deliver new supports for job creation in the Midlands region.
