Business forum compounds need for companies to regionally diversify investment throughout Ireland, particularly the midlands

Longford/Westmeath Fine Gael Deputy James Bannon said today that the discussion forum between the Economic forum Team led by Minister Richard Bruton and Midlands business leaders, held in the Longford Arms, was an outstanding success.

“I was delighted to see a large cross-party turn out of business leaders in the Midlands come together to exchange ideas and provide innovative ways forward for our economy.

“The meeting got right to the heart of the issues with the Minister setting out important supports for Entrepreneurship and start-up, Business in the Domestic Economy and Business Growing into Export Markets. This was followed by a presentation from local business leaders and questions from the public.

  “We need to encourage companies to regionally diversify investment throughout Ireland and particularly in Longford Westmeath.

“Jobs and inward investment is very important to us. We have what investors seek, the right people and skills, good infrastructure access, energy, business services and broadband.

“We need to be using our Ambassadors more often, informing them that they must be out there actively looking for jobs and helping Irish business secure big deals abroad.

“I was delighted to see such a large turnout of business leader’s and a great exchange of ideas and visions. We had a lot of proposals to revitalise Longford Westmeath economy with the meeting stressing the need for managing semi state bodies and the need to get rid of bureaucracy and red tape that is strangling enterprise.”