Cork City Centre showcased as a location for global investment at fDi Forum

29th September 2015

Leading decision-makers from the global corporate sector learned more about the Cork City centre investment proposition at a major foreign direct investment forum in London on September 24th 2015.

With a series of major new developments now underway which will further enhance the City’s high-end office and retail offering, now is the opportune time to showcase Cork city centre as a location of choice for global investment. Organised by fDi Magazine and the Financial Times, the fDi Forum brought together a high-level group of CEOs, managing directors and other decision¬-makers from the corporate sector, along with select representatives from the public sector and other experts in the field of cross?border investment.

Cork City Council Chief Executive, Ann Doherty led a strong Cork delegation to the fDi Forum which included representatives of Cork City Council, Cork Chamber of Commerce, IDA Ireland and Cork Airport. Talent and the existence of strong business clusters are key drivers in company investment decisions, as is a significant research base. Some of Cork’s FDI and indigenous success stories such as Tyco, Teamwork.com and Smarter Dynamics attended the Forum and shared their experiences with delegates of how locating in Cork had helped them to succeed and grow.

Also joining the delegation were organisations responsible for some of Cork City’s most ambitious and state of the art developments including John Cleary Developments (One Albert Quay and The Capitol), O’Callaghan Properties (introducing a new development on Anderson’s Quay), BAM Ireland (introducing the Brewery Quarter and The Quay, Sullivan’s Quay) and Dairygold (with their soon to be launched Trinity Quarter development). Also lending his support to the delegation was New Zealand All Black Doug Howlett who finished his playing career with Munster and since then has made Cork his home professionally and personally.

Addressing the Forum in a panel discussion on EU Developments and FDI, Ms Doherty outlined what makes Cork a strong investment proposition and why it is already home to so many global brands - its talented and educated workforce, strong third level education and research institutes, and its strengths in technology, life sciences, food and beverages and business services. She stressed that stakeholders in Cork were open to engaging with and responding to companies, ensuring they are offered the best solution for their business.

The global reach of the fDi forum is evident in the range of cities and countries represented - Cork City took its place alongside organisations representing Melbourne, Essex, Cyprus, Jersey, Louisiana, Tbilisi, Guangzhou, Quatar and Mali.

The Forum offered valuable insights which will help Cork City develop its message to potential investors. It provided a platform to introduce the city to major global FDI decision makers and influencers, with the opportunity for introductions to and meetings with potential investors – kick starting conversations which will continue after the Forum. This is the first step in the rollout of a major marketing and messaging effort by stakeholders in the wider Cork region.

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