New Chamber President calls on government, investors and business community to seize opportunities
7 March 2013: Dr Fergal Barry, newly appointed president of Limerick Chamber, has called on leaders in government (national and local) and the business community to work together and aggressively act on the opportunities that exist in the Limerick region.
“Limerick is a City going through rejuvenation and offers enormous potential for investors,” Dr Barry advises.
“We have an amalgamated City and County Authority who, in partnership with key stakeholders, is planning focused investment totalling €400M* in initiatives aimed at reigniting the Limerick region. We have superb connectivity through our Shannon Foynes Port Company and Shannon Airport – an airport that is being transformed following its separation from the Dublin Airport Authority. We are leading the way with third level institutions working collaboratively with industry to ensure we have a skilled and talented workforce ready to meet the needs of employers. An Economic Strategy & Spatial Implementation Plan is due to be published shortly by civic leaders setting out a new vision for Limerick as the capital of the Midwest. The region is at a turning point and offers unique opportunities to investors that act now,” he continued.
Dr Barry, Vice President of Research, Development and Enterprise at LIT**, was confirmed as the new President of Limerick Chamber at a board meeting this morning. He was presented with the chain of office by outgoing President Gordon Kearney. Cathal Treacy, Partner at Deloitte, was confirmed as Vice President of Limerick Chamber.
Speaking about his aspirations for the new role, Dr Barry said, “My focus will be on making sure all key partners and stakeholders work together cohesively to make the Limerick region the most attractive and competitive place for jobs, new investment, business growth and quality of life. Along with ensuring the delivery of our new three year strategic plan for Limerick Chamber as we strive to create the best environment for business to succeed.”
* See notes below
** See biography below
ENDS
For further information, please contact Edwina Gore, Communications Consultant, Limerick Chamber, 061-217607 or 087 6295323, email: pr@limerickchamber.ie, www.limerickchamber.ie
NOTES
Shannon Airport and International Aviation Services Centre: Aviation Business Development Task Force Final Report: Following the separation of Shannon airport from the DAA in December 2012, the government announced plans to create an International Aviation Services Centre (IASC). The plan for the ‘IASC’ anticipates the creation of up to 3,000 jobs within a three to five year period across a cluster of diverse international, primarily aviation, related business centered on the airport and building on the existing cluster of 40 aviation related companies working at Shannon.
Shannon Foynes Port Company Vision 2041: On 1 March, Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar launched the ‘Vision 2041’ master plan for Foynes, which the port company believes could facilitate upwards of €2 billion in investment in the Shannon region and see the creation of up to 2,000 new jobs over the next three decades. Planning permission has already been sought for the extension of the east port requiring an investment of 12.5 million.
Economic Strategy and Spatial Implementation Plan for Limerick City: Economic Consultants working with Limerick Authority will shortly unveil a plan to achieve a significant increase in economic activity, enterprise and investment in Limerick and an ambitious spatial plan for the redevelopment and revitalisation of the City Centre. Proposals in the plan include potential investment worth €200M and the setting-up of a new metropolitan district in Limerick, with a population of around 100,000.
Campus 2030 Limerick Institute of Technology Campus Master Plan: In September 2012, LIT unveiled its €200m plus ‘Campus 2030 Masterplan’. The investment will see an additional 50,000sq metres of new facilities as well as extensive refurbishment of existing facilities. It will be invested across LIT’s four existing campuses and a brand new 7,000sq metre campus at Coonagh, Limerick.
University of Limerick Research Investment and Programmes: A pharmaceutical research centre at the University of Limerick is one of seven research centres nationwide to benefit from €300m in funding. Synthesis and Solid State Pharmaceutical Centre (SSPC) will develop new mechanisms and better control processes to produce new and improved drug formulations and safe medicines.
Limerick Chamber 3 year strategic plan 2013 – 2015 – Limerick Chamber is embarking on a new strategic journey to achieve its vision to create the best environment for business to succeed.
BIOGRAPHY – Dr Fergal Barry
Dr Fergal Barry brings a wealth of experience across a range of key areas to the Presidency of Limerick Chamber at this key juncture in the development of Limerick city and the region.
As Vice President of Research, Development & Enterprise at Limerick Institute of Technology, Dr Barry has particular expertise in supporting and nurturing business, not least in promoting the start-up and SME sector. Dr Barry has been an active board member of the Chamber and Vice President of Limerick Chamber in recent years.
Dr Barry’s drive and innovation was central to the establishment of LIT’s unique “Enterprise Ladder” of six incubation centres and several business development programmes across the Mid West Region. Among those centres is the Hartnett Enterprise Acceleration Centre (www.hartnettcentre.ie) at LIT’s Moylish campus, which was developed in 2003 with €3.1M capital expenditure funding secured from Enterprise Ireland. Dr Barry was also instrumental in establishing Europe’s first third level franchise centre, the National Franchise Centre in Limerick in 2011 and a unique partnership between Chambers and higher education. So far the Centre has supported 65 start-up businesses.
The latest centre under planning at LIT is the Irish Fashion Incubator Limited (IFIL), which will capitalise on the strengths of LIT’s Limerick School of Art and Design at Clare Street and is to be located in the city centre. Across LIT’s campuses, these ‘incubation centres’ have supported 145 start-up companies since 2006.
Dr Barry has also leads LIT’s Research and Development Strategy (2008-2025). So far through the implementation of this strategy, LIT has secured €30M research funding and helped enterprise clients raise €20M Seed/Venture Capital funding. Some 400+ businesses have also benefited from knowledge transfer and innovation through research projects with LIT.
Dr Barry’s academic expertise covers specific areas as market analysis, entrepreneurship, governance, leadership and strategic planning. He has also significant experience in integration having been part of the LIT executive team which oversaw the incorporation of the former Tipperary Institute into LIT’s operations – the most significant amalgamation in the Irish Higher Education sector in recent years.
He has been to the forefront of establishing both LIT’s Enterprise Advisory Board and LIT’s Thought Leadership Team comprising senior National and International business people.
LIT has 7,000 students, 950 staff and a € 57M turnover.
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