Athlone centre ‘to create 1,500 jobs’

TWO Athlone, Co Westmeath, developers are promoting a massive international trade centre involving a total investment of €1.4 billion and with the potential to create 1,500 jobs in the first phase of development.

The International Trade and Commerce Centre plan is to provide space for Chinese manufacturers and traders to showcase their products to European and other international buyers, including the US, which would be made in China.

Athlone Business Park Ltd, an Irish company, has submitted its planning application to Westmeath County Council for Phase 1 of the proposed international trade and commerce centre on an overall 137 hectare zoned site.

Phase I to be built on 32 hectares, is costed at €175 million with an estimated 1,500 jobs as well as 1,200 construction jobs.

John Tiernan, chief executive, said the company is promoting Ireland for several reasons, “including our membership of the EU and the fact that we are English-speaking”.

Negotiations with potential Chinese investors about developing the centre are underway, he said.

Overall the potential to create 9,000 jobs exists, with at least two thirds Irish/EU workers and up to one third Chinese specialists and management staff.

The centre could attract 1.5 million international buyers and visitors annually.

The full plan includes nine exhibition halls, nine smaller independent exhibition buildings, temporary exhibition space, offices, administrative services, living quarters, hotels, shops, restaurants, pubs, a school and a train station.

The directors of the company are two local developers Aidan Kelly and Michael O’Sullivan.

With China’s government currently promoting a “Go Out” policy to encourage manufacturers to strengthen their focus on foreign markets, Athlone is ideally located in the target market area for such a centre, he said.