BMW Regional Assembly Conference Highlights Opportunities for Growth & Jobs in the Region
More than 100 delegates at the Border, Midland and Western (BMW) Regional Assembly’s 10th Annual Conference in Cavan Town (Friday April 14th, 2010), were informed that real opportunities exist for future growth and development in the BMW Region. The conference which was addressed by the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills Mary Coughlan and a distinguished panel of speakers examined the challenges that exist for stimulating growth and employment in the BMW Region in from a local, regional, all-island and higher education perspective.
In his opening address, Councillor Andrew Boylan, Chairman of the BMW Assembly and current Chair of Cavan Town Council welcomed delegates and outlined his expectations for a satisfactory resolution to the current challenges faced by the Quinn Group.
Tánaiste Mary Coughlan T.D. in her keynote address emphasised the importance of delivering ‘real regional development’ to the BMW Region. She outlined her vision for a sustained response to the current economic conditions focusing upon export-led growth, greater levels of innovation and optimisation of existing industry in the BMW Region. She outlined the new objective of IDA to create 100,000 over the next number of years with 50% of these being located outside Dublin and Cork.
Mr. Gerry Finn, Director of BWM Regional Assembly presented the contribution that the Assembly is making to stimulate the regional economy. Mr. Finn highlighted the impact of the BMW Regional Operational Programme which has EU contribution of €227m, the €17m Gateway and Hub Fund and the initiatives undertaken in policy development such as those in relation to advocating the development of regional airports and recently published report of the Innovation Taskforce.
The local perspective was addressed by Mr. Vincent Reynolds, CEO of Cavan County Enterprise Board. Mr. Reynolds underlined the need to inject confidence back in both business and consumer confidence which has ebbed from the economy. He stressed the current difficulty for enterprises to access capital and argued for a refocusing of policy towards enterprise establishment.
The President of the Dundalk Institute of Technology and Convenor of Líonra, the higher education network in the BMW Region, Mr. Dennis Cummins outlined the role that higher education needs to fulfill to supporting economic development. He contended that in order to foster more entrepreneurs the third level system needs to produce creative and independent thinking graduates who have interacted with industry during their education. Mr. Cummins advocated the development of a culture where academics are rewarded and not penalised for pursuing linkages with industry.
Mr. Liam Nellis CEO of InterTradeIreland outlined the benefits of an all-island and cross-border approach to generating economic activity between firms and amongst academia. He described a range of intervention programmes managed by InterTradeIreland which have created more than 800 jobs and supported 14,000 companies.
Presentations from The Conference to Download
Promoting Growth and Jobs in the BMW Region - Gerry Finn, Director BMW Regional Assembly
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