Tánaiste launches Waterford investment website

Mary Coughlan TD, An Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, today (Friday 15^th May) launched a new website showcasing the attractions of investing, working and living in Waterford.

Initiated by the Waterford City Development Board, www.waterfordbusinessinfo.ie aims to be an online one-stop-shop promoting entrepreneurship and economic activity.

An economic profile has also been completed that will help Waterford target potential investors. The profile provides an overview of the city’s socioeconomic profile, labour force, skills pool, infrastructure and utilities. In common with the website, it also highlights the quality of life on offer in Waterford and sets out future plans.

Ms Coughlan said the site is an “excellent example” of a city taking a proactive approach to marketing what it has to offer to would-be investors and entrepreneurs.

“The internet is a hugely important early-stage research tool for those making increasingly mobile investment decisions and it is important that areas have a strong web presence where useful information can be accessed by those considering expanding or establishing a new business.

“With a good tradition of commerce and entrepreneurship along with excellent higher education provision at Waterford Institute of Technology; fast-improving road infrastructure as the Waterford City Bypass and M9 Dublin-Waterford motorway near completion and with convenient access through Waterford Airport and Port of Waterford, Waterford is set for further growth as the global economy recovers.

“To harness these and other assets in its favour, it is very useful that the city now has a website that brings together a range of material at a single location. The Office of Community & Enterprise at Waterford City Council is to be congratulated for driving this initiative with their partners at IDA Ireland; Waterford Chamber; Waterford Institute of Technology; South East Business Innovation Centre; Enterprise Ireland and the Waterford City Enterprise Board.”

Cllr Jack Walsh, Mayor of Waterford said the new website and accompanying promotional material will allow Waterford put its best foot forward. “The output of a multi-agency collaboration, www.waterfordbusinessinfo.ie can become the first choice for those looking to set up or grow a business in our city. The sort of practical information it brings together can be difficult to access without experiencing ‘information overload’. The popularity of the Internet as an information resource is regularly underlined by the success of search engines like Google and Waterford needs to be in that marketplace with a professional presence.”

“The ethos underpinning the site is that Waterford is open for business and we are playing as a united team to ensure our community survives this recession and thrives when recovery takes hold. There is real creativity in this city and – while we face real challenges because of a traditional over-reliance on labour-intensive manufacturing - we have already benefited from successful start-ups and inward investment. The new site will help ensure we continue to ‘sell’ Waterford effectively. We can no longer depend exclusively on others to do that vital job for us.”

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