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2011 – One of the Best Years Ever for Foreign Direct Investment in Ireland – 2012 Continues the Trend

Ireland remains a strong destination for international investment, including North America, exceeding comparable investments in Brazil, Russia, India and China combined for 2011.  Ireland offers numerous competitive advantages to international investors including:

  • access to EU markets
  • a competitive, corporate tax regime, including the 12.5% mainstream Corporation Tax rate and other important initiatives
  • a Double Tax Treaty network
  • increased competitiveness in the cost of  doing business
  • a highly-qualified, experienced and educated workforce

As a stable western democracy, Ireland’s business structures and regulatory framework are particularly suited to the requirements of multinational enterprises.  Since the 1950s, successive Irish governments have consistently implemented an industrial policy that has resulted in Ireland becoming a premier location for investment by multinational enterprises in Europe.

The 2008-2012 Business Environment Ranking of the Economist Intelligence Unit placed Ireland 11th globally out of 82 countries, naming it as one of the most attractive business locations in the world.  Furthermore, Forbes 2011 named Ireland as the best country in Europe in which to do business.

Amongst the most significant announcements for investment in Ireland included those from Twitter, Intel, IBM, Coca-Cola, Amgen, Pfizer, MSD, PayPal, Fidelity, HedgeServe, VMware, EA/Bioware, Prometric, Sumitomo (JRI America), Harmac, Analog Devices and Gilt Groupe.  The trend looks set to continue for 2012, with announcements of further investments by, amongst others, Workday, Allergan, Sky, Webroot, Big Fish Games, Abbott, HP,  EMC, MasterCard, PayPal, Microsoft, Eli Lilly, Pepsico, Datalogic and Indeed.

Mason Hayes & Curran is pleased to have been the adviser of choice to many multinational enterprises that have invested in Ireland and we look forward to further advising those wishing to do business in and through Ireland.