Cork needs greater air access to aid investment, says US chamber official

CORK needs greater air access to other parts of Europe and better road links to win new investment, the new southern chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland said yesterday.

Mike O’Hara, who is also operations vice-president at the Boston Scientific plant in Cork, said investment in infrastructure was a key priority for businesses in the southern region.

The chamber would work closely with local authorities, public sector bodies and third-level colleges to make the region as attractive as possible for multinational companies, he said.

Air access to Cork was inadequate and more routes were needed to link the region with major European cities, according to the chamber. Mr O’Hara quoted a recent report by the World Economic Forum that highlighted poor infrastructure as one of Ireland’s main competitive disadvantages.

“Additional European air routes from Cork and further investment in roads infrastructure will be crucial in the battle to win new investment,” he said. The chamber’s southern region represents 77 US firm employing over 15,000 people in Cork and south Kerry. Its members include Apple, Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, Fexco Pfizer and Schering Plough.

“The IDA has been very successful in attracting leading global technology and pharmaceutical companies to the region and the focus now must be on investing in infrastructure to enable these companies to conduct their business profitably, while at the same time ensuring new industry will continue to be attracted,” said Mr O’Hara.