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In an evolving FDI landscape, international investors have identified policy areas for Ireland to focus on, including supporting high-tech industries and innovation.
In brief
Ireland drops slightly in the 2023 European rankings but remains appealing for future investment.
79% of international investors are eyeing up new or thinking about expanding operations here.
The country could consolidate its place as a digital front-runner by capitalising on its AI credentials.
Ireland won 100 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects in 2023, placing it 11th on the league table of most desirable investment destinations in Europe, down from 10th position in 2022. Encouragingly, optimism about the future rose with 66% of respondents expecting Ireland’s attractiveness to improve over the coming three years (up from 46%). According to the EY Attractiveness Survey, 79% of international investors are planning to establish new or expand existing operations in Ireland over the next 12 months, up from 53% last year.
The slippage in 2023 comes after a strong performance in 2022. It reflects a softening in FDI at European level, particularly investment from the US. Ireland did comparatively well in Medical Devices, Finance, Software & IT Services, and Pharmaceuticals, ranking in the top 10.
Although the decline in FDI in 2023 is disappointing, Ireland only slipped one place in the annual ranking of European countries. Looking to 2024 and beyond, the improvement in investor sentiment is very encouraging and it is good to see Dublin featuring among the top 10 cities in terms of future attractiveness.
In 2023, foreign direct investment (FDI) in Ireland slipped, with the number of projects decreasing to 100 from 184 in the previous year. The distribution of these projects saw Dublin leading with 47%, followed by the South West at 23%, the West at 11%, the South East at 6%, the Mid East and Border regions each at 2%. Ireland ranked 11th in Europe for FDI projects last year, down from 10th in 2022. The outlook for 2024 and beyond appears brighter, with 79% of respondents planning to establish or expand operations, up from 53% in 2023, and 66% believe Ireland's attractiveness will increase over the next three years. Dublin ranked 7th in Europe for city attractiveness.
Respondents have identified clear policy areas for Ireland to concentrate on, including skills (36%), geographic balance (32%), transport (29%), energy (27%), and connectivity (23%). 51% suggest that Ireland should bolster support for high-tech industries and innovation. As for investment intentions over the next three years, 53% of respondents are looking to invest in IT infrastructure and digital technology, 51% in cybersecurity, and 40% in AI and machine learning. The attractiveness of Ireland for AI investments is attributed to the opportunities to invest in AI startups (47%), a supportive policy framework (43%), an AI-ready workforce (41%), and a strong AI ecosystem (41%).
Centred on talent, business-friendly policies, stability and access to Europe’s single market, Ireland’s FDI model has been highly successful for decades. The global landscape is changing, however. Trade and investment policies have become more inward-orientated and competition among jurisdictions has intensified, making for an increasingly challenging environment. Concurrently, sustainability and digitalisation are reshaping economies the world over, with the promise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) standing at the forefront of this transformative wave.
While geopolitical uncertainty is a headwind, businesses are undertaking digital and sustainable transformation programmes and exploring AI technology. To safeguard its status as an inward investment hub and to attract the drivers of next-generation economic growth, Ireland should leverage its traditional strengths, hone its new capabilities, and stay agile.
Our research delves into international investors’ plans and sentiment, considers the areas Ireland should be focussing on domestically to bolster its appeal as a location for FDI, and where it needs to concentrate its efforts to maintain competitiveness on the global stage.