Tánaiste Opens New Clonmel Business and Enterprise Park Park to Provide Workspace and Other Facilities for Local Entrepreneurs "Clonmel Now Has the Infrastructure to Allow Local Business to Succeed on World Stage" - Harney

The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade& Employment, Mary Harney today (Monday 12 June 2000) opened the new Business and Enterprise Park in Clonmel.

The Business Park will provide incubation space in Clonmel for entrepreneurs who wish to establish businesses in the town. The Park will provide an ideal environment for small business start-ups, combining the availability of commercial workspace with on-site management development, training and mentoring support.

Speaking at the opening, the Tánaiste said "The Business and Enterprise Park will provide valuable workspace for start up businesses in the town, and facilitate the development of a number of viable enterprises already emerging within the local community. It will encourage all potential entrepreneurs and ensure that small and medium sized enterprises receive the full range of services and resources necessary to establish and develop their new activities."

"Indigenous industry has played an important role in our economic progress in recent years and many Irish companies have created remarkable success stories both at home and abroad. The Government is determined that Irish business should continue to prosper and grow, generating more start-ups and producing more international-class companies. Initiatives such as the development of this Park help to provide the environment in which this can happen," the Tánaiste said.

"Location is now no longer an obstacle to success on a global scale. The Government’s commitment to investment in a modern telecommunications infrastructure, in developing world class research and development facilities in Ireland and in the promotion of the legislative and business environment in which electronic commerce can thrive is no longer in doubt. Such progress is changing the face of business today and the opportunities that are opening up are enormous," the Tánaiste added.

"Phase one of the project consists of 7,000 sq ft. and this will increase to 25,000 sq ft when phase two, currently under construction, is complete. The Park will provide Clonmel with the infrastructure to foster local entrepreneurial spirit and I hope it will become home to many successful businesses capable of trading on the world stage," the Tánaiste continued.

Finally, the Tánaiste congratulated those who had collaborated to make the Business and Enterprise a success.

"The Park was the brainchild of the Tipperary Task Force which I established in the wake of the closure of the Seagate plant in 1997. The site was donated by Clonmel Corporation and the project is promoted by the Clonmel Chamber of Commerce. It is very much a local effort and all those involved deserve enormous credit, the Tánaiste concluded.

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