Ireland South East and Waterford City achieve Top 10 ranking across four categories in fDi European Cities and Regions of the Future Awards 2024
Ireland South East and Waterford City feature in the Top Ten listing in four categories on the fDi European Cities and Regions of the Future 2024.
For the fourth year in a row the region has been ranked in the Top 5 for FDI Strategy. The city ranked fourth in the Overall Micro European City of the Future and features in the Top Ten in the categories of Economic Potential, Business Friendliness and FDI Strategy.
The awards are hosted by fDi magazine, an international news and foreign direct investment magazine published by fDi Intelligence, a specialist division from The Financial Times Ltd.
The awards benchmark European cities and regions according to their economic, financial, and business strengths.
Patsy Carney, Chair of the Ireland South East Development Office and the Regional Enterprise Plan said:
FDI announcements over the past two years show that our client companies are doubling down on the success that they enjoy in Ireland South East. Transformational employment trends mean that our value propositions of having Ireland’s best co-working facilities, pleasant weather, and excellent outdoor amenities are now to the fore. Our collaborative approach in creating the ideal economic environment for our investors to grow within ensures that we are the Irish and European region of the future with the most potential to scale over the next 5 to 10 years.
Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. Joe Conway welcomed the findings, saying, “Waterford has built up a head of steam in gaining national and international attention of late and the findings from the fDi Index reinforce our success.
Recognition as a city that is attractive to do business in, has great economic potential and a robust FDI strategy is testament to the work of the Local Authority, the local business community, Enterprise Ireland and the IDA.
The collaborative approach by these agencies has copper fastened Waterford as an attractive and viable place to live, work and invest in.
Michael Walsh, Chief Executive of Waterford City and County Council added,
Waterford and indeed the southeast region have performed stronger than ever, being placed in four categories.
In a year that saw commencement of site works at the North Quays, this transformative project will harness and extend Waterford’s city centre. In tandem with this there was also a €24 million investment in cycling and walking infrastructure, the opening of the greenway city link, the opening of the newly refurbished Mount Congreve House and Gardens and €700,000 invested in the Town & Village Renewal scheme.
Waterford’s main pillars of investment aimed at expanding infrastructure as well as enhancing connectivity, tourism, and local cultural offering are creating a truly holistic environment that is proving attractive to investors.
