Language, business environment cited as attractions to foreign investment

THE ease of doing business, being an English-speaking country and the low corporation tax rate mean Ireland is still a huge attraction for foreign investment.

Research has also found that the total stock of US foreign investment in Ireland is greater than total US investment in China and 81 times the level in Greece. According to some of the country’s leading economists, Ireland is the best country in Europe for ease of doing business and the country has retained “exceptional advantages” as a location for foreign direct investment, despite the economic downturn.

Economists Alan Gray, Greg Swinand and William Batt said that the crisis in the Irish economy has actually reduced some of Ireland’s disadvantages as an investment location, including uncompetitive housing and property prices, high labour rates and escalating electricity and energy bills.