Cork City was recently ranked very highly on FDI’s European Cities and Regions of the Future 2024 awards. Beating off stiff competition in the highly competitive small city category, which includes well-established business cities like Geneva, Cambridge, Basel and Luxembourg. In addition to placing first for FDI strategy, Cork was placed:
- 2nd in Europe for economic potential
- 3rd in Europe for business friendliness
- 4th overall in the small European category
Topping the rankings for Foreign Direct Investment strategy represents a ringing endorsement of the policies that have seen over 200 major international companies establish a presence in Cork. The Cork City Council-led application highlighted the region’s strategy of working closely with FDI partners like the I.D.A and Enterprise Ireland, in addition to close ties between industry and the city’s educational partners.
The successful award application also highlighted the city’s advanced sustainability plans and use of the ‘We are Cork’ place brand, a multi-stakeholder Cork initiative which communicates the ease and benefits of doing business in Cork. The initiative highlights Cork’s strengths regarding the number of desirable graduates coming out of the city’s two universities every year while also showcasing the city as a place to Live, Work and Invest.
Cork City Council Director of Services for Strategic and Economic Development Fearghal Reidy said: “‘This accolade reflects the attractiveness of Cork as a place to invest and do business, a testament to the quality of life in Cork along with the top-class education, research and industrial supports available in the city.”
(Source: Corkcity.ie)
