Ireland

Investing

FDI in figures

Ireland is the second most active absorber of FDI in the EU after Sweden. Ireland's inward investment promotion agency, IDA Ireland (Industrial Development Agency) is responsible for the attraction and development of foreign investment in Ireland. Almost 1,000 overseas companies have chosen to invest in Ireland as their European base and are involved in a wide range of activities in sectors as diverse as engineering , information communications technologies , pharmaceuticals , medical technologies , financial and international services.

Foreign Direct Investment	2004	2005	2006
FDI of inward flow (millions USD)	-10,608	-31,132	12,811
FDI inward stock (millions USD)	n.c.	n.c.	179,041.0
Performance Index*, world ranking	13	141	141
Potential Index**, world ranking	10	13	n.c.
Number of Greenfield investments	131	193	140
FDI inwards (in % of GFCF)	-23.6	-57.4	21.3
FDI stock (in % of GDP)	n.c.	n.c.	81.2

Source: UNCTAD, World Investment Report

Note: * The UNCTAD Inward FDI Performance index is based on a ratio of the country's share in global FDI inflows and its share in global GDP. ** The UNCTAD Inward FDI Potential index is based on 12 economic and structural variables such as GDP, foreign trade, FDI, infrastructures, energy use, R&D, education, country risk.

Why you should choose Ireland

Strong points

- The lowest corporation tax rate in Europe at 12.5%;
- a young skilled well educated workforce, with relevant technological and business skills;
- a competitive economy;
- Intellectual Property (IP);
- R&D Environment;
- an advanced and competitive industrial infrastructure.

Government measures to motivate or restrict FDI

The Irish Government actively promotes foreign direct investment (FDI), a strategy that has fueled robust economic growth since the "Celtic Tiger" period of the late 1990s.
Traditionally, the principal goal of investment promotion has been employment creation, especially in technology-intensive and high-skill industries.
More recently, the Government has focused on Ireland’s international competitiveness by encouraging foreign-invested companies to enhance research and development (R&D) activities and to deliver higher value goods and services.

Four state organizations promote inward investment:
- The Industrial Development Authority of Ireland (IDA);
- enterprise Ireland;
- Shannon Free Airport Development Co
- Udaras na Gaeltachta.

Bilateral investment conventions signed by Ireland

More informations on www.bilaterals.org

Administrative procedures relative to foreign investment

Freedom of establishment: Guaranteed.
Acquisition of holdings: Authorized, except for some sectors of activity.
Obligation to declare: Please consult the Industrial Development Agency of Ireland (IDA) website.
Competent organization for the declaration: IDA
Requests for specific authorizations: Potential investors are also required to examine the environmental impact of the proposed project and to meet with Irish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials.