Meeting will look at branding strategy
Development bodies in Britain, Greece, Finland, Spain, Netherlands, France, Ireland and Belgium will discuss strategies for economic development using their own distinct regional identities.
The success of West Cork's regional branding initiative the Fuchsia brand will be examined through a series of presentations, workshops and visits to rural enterprises at what will be Europe's first regional branding conference.
Regional branding as a development approach to diversify and differentiate rural economies and facilitate ongoing collaborations in research, marketing and training between other European regions will be assessed.
Ian Dempsey, West Cork LEADER Co-op, said it is delighted with the international recognition of the Fuchsia Brand. The event represents a wonderful opportunity to showcase the beauty and charms of West Cork.
The marriage of a strong identity and reputation for quality with natural resources adds considerable appeal to an area's products, creating a sustainable competitive advantage as evidenced by the success of West Cork's Fuchsia brand.
Whilst Ireland has attracted considerable interest for its success in building technology and pharmaceutical clusters, the emergence of indigenous based networks of excellence has been slower.
The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs published its review of enterprise support in rural areas in March giving significant attention to the clustering process and the development of quality networks.
West Cork LEADER Co-op's regional branding strategy was highlighted as a good example of how the enterprise clustering method works.
The emergence of the Fuchsia Brand as a prime development support infrastructure to assist enterprises to sustain and thrive from a remote rural location has been lauded as one of the successes of the EU LEADER rural development programme and has provoked much interest from other rural areas throughout Europe.
