2011 saw a strong performance in the level of foreign direct investment (FDI) won by Ireland. The Industrial Development Authority, the state body responsible for attracting FDI to Ireland, (the IDA), said in its end-of-year statement, that IDA client companies created more than 13,000 new jobs throughout the year. The figure marks an increase of 20% on the previous year’s level of 10,897, increasing the total number of those employed directly by IDA client companies to almost 146,000.
Companies such as Twitter, Intel, IBM, Coca-Cola, Amgen, Pfizer, MSD, PayPal, Fidelity, HedgeServe, VMware, EA/Bioware, Prometric, Sumitomo (JRI America), Harmac, Analog Devices and Gilt Groupe made some of the most significant investments in Ireland in 2011. Investment highlights include:
- More than 13,000 new jobs created, up 20% on 2010
- A record total of 148 investments won, up 17% on the previous year
- 61 new companies investing in Ireland for the first time, up 30% on 2010
- €115 billion (more than 70%) of Irish exports from IDA client companies
- C. €700 million in new R&D investment
- More than 70% of corporation tax in Ireland paid by IDA client companies
- IDA client companies spend €19 billion in the Irish economy
- IDA client companies paid €6.9 billion in payroll
- Two-thirds of business -spend on research & development is by IDA client companies.
Of the 148 FDI investments made in 2011, a record number of 61 were from multinational companies investing in Ireland for the first time while 87 were made by existing client companies. Of existing client investments, 46 were expansions while 41 were in research and development.
