Diaspora could ‘nudge deals’ for Ireland

Ireland could become a world leader when it comes to attracting investment through expatriates, a top business consultant said yesterday.

Kingsley Aikins said strategies needed to be put in place for close networking with the diaspora who were usually more than willing to help.

“Many of these people are in high places around the world and could influence and nudge deals Ireland’s way,” he said.

Such people could become “tipping agents’’, he said, but a global network was needed to tap into that, including colleges, businesses, and the Government.

Mr Aikins, former head of Ireland Funds, was speaking at a seminar in Tralee, Co Kerry, and stressed that mutually beneficial relationships would have to be built up with these people.

Globally, around 450 government initiatives are under way to connect with diaspora in 75 countries and Ireland is one of the most successful countries in that regard, he said.

“Ireland should be a world leader in teaching, training, consultancy, and research in the diaspora space. If we do that, I believe people will come to Ireland to learn what we are doing,’’ he said.

Modern communications technology could be used to build up a network of contacts that would attract diaspora direct investment, he pointed out.

The seminar was organised by Kerry County Enterprise Board and Tralee Chamber Alliance and was attended by business people from around the county.

Issues discussed included best conditions for business growth and the creation of sustainable jobs.

Some speakers at the seminar stressed the importance of developing small businesses rather than trying to attract large multi-nationals as a means of creating jobs.

Meanwhile, figures from the CSO show the number of people signing on Kerry’s live register fell by almost 10% in a year. According to the statistics, 15,871 people were signing on in Kerry in Nov 2012, compared to 14,304, a year later.