'Succeed in Ireland' initiative targets new FDI job opportunities and aims to create 5000 jobs

The Government today [Thursday] launched the “Succeed in Ireland” initiative, which aims to create 5000 jobs within five years by targeting international companies and business people, who would otherwise not be reached by the State enterprise agencies, for employment opportunities to Ireland. The initiative was launched by the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation at the Custom House.

Today’s launch represents delivery of a key Q1 commitment in the Action Plan for Jobs 2012, and also represents a concrete example of the Government’s commitment to make Ireland the best small country in the world in which to do business.

The initiative will provide direct financial incentives to people around the world to create employment in Ireland by making payments to people responsible for bringing sustainable jobs to Ireland. Small and medium sized companies around the world considering expansion, but who would not be large enough to be reached by the State enterprise agencies, will be targeted in particular by the new initiative. The Irish community around the world will be a major focus of the programme.

The initiative will be managed by IDA Ireland, which, following a procurement process, has appointed ConnectIreland.com to promote and deliver the initiative. ConnectIreland.com will use referral marketing to generate interest in the initiative.

Launching Succeed in Ireland, Taoiseach Enda Kenny, TD, said, ’The top priority of this Government is to get Ireland back to work and the Action Plan for Jobs was published recently to address this problem. The Succeed in Ireland initiative, as part of the Action Plan for Jobs, will incentivise people around the world, including our diaspora, to be our eyes and ears on the global stage and help deliver new jobs and investment. This is an innovative scheme that offers a new channel to reach thousands of small to medium enterprises around the world and spread the word about Ireland’s strong reputation as a location for business.’

The Tánaiste said:

‘I look forward to seeing the aims of the Succeed in Ireland initiative realised and an increase in the number of foreign SMEs investing in Ireland to create sustainable jobs. This is part of the Government's drive to build on the resource that is Ireland's diaspora.’

The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation said:

“If we are to create the levels of employment we need, we must not only rebuild our economy and create sustainable growth, but we must also find innovative new ways of bringing large numbers of new jobs projects to Ireland. The IDA does excellent work in securing employment in Ireland from their target companies – but they can’t target every company in the world that might consider expanding and locating operations in Ireland. Ireland is open for business, Ireland is hungry for investment and job opportunities, and Succeed in Ireland will ensure that we can communicate this across the world. Through this initiative we will be able to reach a whole world of other companies who we otherwise would not be able to target, and will make a major contribution to creating the jobs we so badly need”.

Commenting on the Succeed in Ireland initiative, Barry O’Leary, CEO of IDA Ireland said, ‘The Succeed in Ireland initiative will use innovative ways of marketing to attract additional Foreign Direct investment to Ireland. The initiative will compliment IDA’s existing work in securing FDI from large multinationals, companies at second tier and emerging business companies. We fully support Succeed in Ireland which will focus on securing jobs primarily in the small to medium enterprise sector. We will work closely with the ConnectIreland team, lending our advice and expertise on turning leads into new and sustainable jobs for Ireland.’

Terry Clune, Chairman of ConnectIreland said, ‘On behalf of ConnectIreland, we are delighted to have been appointed by IDA Ireland to drive this exciting initiative which will aid Ireland’s return to work. All of us have contacts, be it business contacts, friends or extended family and we are asking people to use these contacts in order to make connections with companies overseas that are expanding internationally. Those who make the connections that lead to sustainable new employment in Ireland will be rewarded, not only financially, but will have the satisfaction of playing a part in creating jobs here and bringing Ireland’s economy back to full strength. I would urge people to get working on this straight away, register on the ConnectIreland website and spread the word about this new opportunity.’

To find out more about ConnectIreland and how you can play a part in getting Ireland back to work see: www.ConnectIreland.com or follow on Twitter: @ConnectIreland.

ENDS