SHANNON DEVELOPMENT chief executive Kevin Thompstone, yesterday announced his decision to step down in the summer of 2008.

SHANNON DEVELOPMENT chief executive Kevin Thompstone, yesterday announced his decision to step down in the summer of 2008.

MORE than 2,000 jobs were created in the Shannon region last year, bucking a trend of heavy losses that saw industrial employment nationally dip by 2%.

VISITOR numbers to tourist attractions in the mid-west took a substantial hit last year, mainly due to the temporary closure of a historic stone tower.

Regional development must be prioritised in the new National Development Plan, according to the chief executive of Ireland's only regional development compan, Shannon Development.

THE Limerick Docklands Initiative (LDI), which involves a master plan for the future development of 44 acres at the city’s port, was back on track last night.

THE sale of Kerry-based images company, Stockbyte, last week for €110m could inspire other success stories from a hi-tech centre in Tralee.

THE chief executive of Shannon Development yesterday admitted to TDs a report into its property management was “scathing” and had caused tension within the organisation.

The Shannon Development agency has identified increased tourism growth in the region and the provision of state of the art property for national an international companies as its main goals for this year.

A high speed Atlantic Corridor will link the key cities in the west under the Government’s 10-year transport strategy, it emerged tonight.

A THREE-YEAR slide in industrial job numbers in the Mid-West was halted in 2004, according to Shannon Development's annual report, published yesterday.

Ernst & Young has announced the Irish shortlist for the 2005 Entrepreneur of the Year Programme.

TWENTY-FIVE years ago, China’s foreign minister came to Ireland to study what was then known as the Shannon Free Zone.

Jimmy Woulfe, Mid-West Correspondent

Jimmy Woulfe, Mid-West Correspondent

Shannon Development has described 2004 as a bumper year for the region.

THE University of Limerick won a major innovation award last night for its ability to convert classroom concepts into a potentially money spinning enterprise.

SHANNON Development launched a new €12 million rural eTown initiative yesterday aimed at giving a major technology and jobs boost to the Mid-West.

CORK and Shannon airports will grow once they are independent of Aer Rianta and the dominance of Dublin airport, a top Canadian airport executive predicted yesterday.

The Kemmy Business School (KBS) at the University of Limerick has announced its first business advisory board.

SHANNON Development is hoping to secure the backing of European Commission President Romano Prodi today for its ambitious plan to develop Shannon Airport as the €5 billion air cargo capital of Europe.

PLANS to make Shannon Airport the air cargo capital of Europe and generate 15,000 local jobs will be revealed by Shannon Development in the new year.

UP TO 700 jobs are at risk because of soaring insurance costs and pressure from inflation, the chief executive of Shannon Development warned yesterday.

A KEY factor in the future success of Shannon Airport must be the retention of the transatlantic stopover, the Government was warned yesterday.

MORE jobs were lost than created in the Shannon region last year, according to figures released by Shannon Development.

THE boundaries of Limerick will have be extended to allow the mid-west capital develop into a prosperous gateway city.

THE closure of a communications equipment-making plant in Shannon will cost the local economy in excess of €20 million annually.

AN Aer Rianta chief yesterday rejected a call by Shannon Development for a new independent public body to run Shannon Airport.

SHANNON DEVELOPMENT yesterday called for a new independent public body to run Shannon Airport, after a year which saw the net loss of 698 jobs in the region.