There has been a 50 per cent rise in the level of foreign direct investment (FDI) in
Ireland this year.
New statistics showed Ireland was the main beneficiary of a Europe-wide increase in inward investment in the first six months of the year. Ireland enjoyed growth of 50 per cent, almost twice the European average of 27 per cent, between January and June,
compared to the same period last year.
Des McCann, head of project finance at Ernst & Young Ireland, said the state’s figures were very encouraging. "While traditional locations for foreign direct investment in Europe such as France and Spain continue to see a fall-off in investment figures, Ireland continues to hold its share at around 3 per cent," he said.
The Irish market share of total FDI in Europe was 3 per cent for the first six months of 2004, in comparison to 2 per cent in 2003.
The largest percentage of investment went to the UK, with 22 per cent of total European investment.
