Limerick’s remarkable journey recognised with European award

  • Limerick from the top of the big wheel

Limerick’s status as a scaling European city has been acknowledged in Cannes, France this week when it was among a small number of European cities honoured in the prestigious annual fDi Intelligence Awards.

The awards identify the most attractive locations in Europe for foreign direct investment, with Limerick beating off opposition from Belgium, Latvia, Slovenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Czech Republic to win the ‘Best Micro City’ award.

The biennial awards are run by fDi Intelligence, a specialist division from The Financial Times Ltd. and serve as a barometer for foreign direct investors looking for locations across the continent for new bases.

Limerick was also named as European City of the Future in its population category and also ranked first for Business Friendliness and FDI Strategy in the awards. It was runner-up in the Best Economic Potential award was included in the top 10 European cities in its population category for Human Capital and Lifestyle.

Mayor of the City and County of Limerick Cllr Stephen Keary said: Limerick has been the urban success story of the recovery in Ireland and while we still have a long way to go, it is only right that we would celebrate this much deserved European recognition.

“We are a scaling city, an ambitious city and it’s only right that we would be in Cannes, shoulder to shoulder with other award winners such as Barcelona and London. That’s the level of ambition Limerick has today.”

Said Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Economic Development with Limerick City and County Council Dr Pat Daly: “Our resurgence hasn’t happened by accident. It is carefully guided by our Economic and Spatial plan launched in 2013, the first such economic and spatial plan for an Irish city. We are delivering on the targets of that plan and this is down to powerful spirit of collaboration between all stakeholders in this city and region.

“The results speak for themselves; over 2,500 jobs announced last year, 12,000 over the last five years. The start of the year has also been very positive by way of announcements for Limerick and the wider region, most recently the 600 jobs announced by Edwards Life Sciences. We are also progressing cutting edge space to attract more inward investment, with the 100,000 sq. ft., 700 job Gardens International office space in the heart of the city set to be completed later to this year to LEED Gold standard and followed by the Opera Site, Cleeves Riverside Campus and more.

“It’s a great time to be in Limerick and even better still is that there’s a determination to ensure that this is only the beginning. Limerick is being held up now as a European example of how cities can be transformed and today’s result is further evidence of that.”

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