Cork Region must Capitalise on its Enormous Potential

24 October, 2008

Cork Chamber's Business Conference in association with the Institute of Bankers Southern region, "Cork's Renaissance: A Vision for the Future", outlined the key components needed to underpin the future development of Cork as a vibrant, thriving and expanding economic region.
Opening the Conference, Chamber President Joe Gantly stressed the need for all relevant organisations and interests in the Cork region to come together to develop a future strategy for success and capitalise on all the positives achieved in recent years.

Commenting Mr Gantly said, "To ensure Cork's continued success as a key southern gateway, we need a strong government with an appetite to deliver on balanced regional development and the conviction to deliver on key projects. It is imperative Government funding is available for crucial projects such as Cork Docklands, in addition to critical road infrastructure projects such as the N28 route to Ringaskiddy, which has the potential to open up 400 acres for further foreign direct investment".

Mr Gantly also stressed the need for, and the benefits of a strong and dynamic branding and marketing of the Cork region. "Competitive positioning of city regions is rapidly gaining momentum internationally and our competitors are continuing to market their business offerings and infrastructures to global investors. Therefore, we must market the Cork region as a location of choice within our global region, as a real and viable business location offering competitive advantage and real opportunity".

With regard to skills development in the region, Mr Gantly stated, "Cork remains attractive for high-end, skill-intensive operations. However, if we are to continue to prosper, we must ensure that the Cork region has a highly skilled and educated labour force with the ability to not only meet the needs of the regional business community, but also more importantly to allow Cork to respond to emerging opportunities that will present themselves in the future".

Other speakers at the conference represented various sectors on which much of the future potential of the region is already dependent and highlighted their experiences gained to date and the strategies needed to deliver for the future.

For further information please contact:
Conor Healy, Chief Executive, Cork Chamber, tel 021 4509044 / 087 9471858
Lucy O'Donoghue, Membership Development & P.R. Manager, Cork Chamber, tel 021 4509044