Interview: Daniel McLoughlin, Chief Executive, South Dublin County Council

How is SDCC preparing to accommodate future FDI? 

SDCC is home to Grange Castle Business Park, the largest wholly owned local authority FDI site in Ireland. It has become the location of choice for world-class multinationals such as Pfizer, Microsoft, Amazon and Google. It is a world class facility with investments of over 5 billion euro and has a significant pipeline of ongoing investments. For investors considering Ireland, Grange Castle Business Park is a natural first visit, especially as all services imaginable are already on site, including broadband, energy and water services. 

Grange Castle Business Park is conveniently located six miles from the city center and lies on various arterial transport routes of the national road, bus, and cycle-ways network, which are adjacent to the park. It is a mere 25-minute drive from Dublin Airport and in close proximity to seven third level institutes. 

SDCC has a proven 20-year track record in the planning, development and management of the park, streamlining the process for new investors. Grange Castle Business Park holds the largest land area for accommodating substantial new businesses, and we are developing an additional five hundred acres, including the tendering of all related infrastructure, with a view to being ready to accommodate new business and FDI later this year. 

How is SDCC mitigating the supply pinches of downtown Dublin? 

The county has a crucial function in accommodating the urban growth of Dublin. The supply and pricing concerns are not as severe as downtown, and SDCC has land zoned to accommodate another 42,000 homes in preparation for future demand. SDCC has five main growth areas planned for urban development of residential units and two have been given a fast-track strategic development zone (SDZ) planning status. 

The county is home to the youngest workforce in Ireland and has a pro-business environment. South Dublin is therefore full of youthful energy, innovation, and opportunity; and has significant growth plans to ensure it provides for an excellent quality of life for current and future residents. 

What benefits does South Dublin life provide residents? 

South Dublin is a visually appealing place to live and offers its residents modern convenience, excellent amenities, high-quality landscaping and state of the art technological innovation to solve Dublin’s current lifestyle challenges. It offers all of the `edge of city` benefits, starting with strong connectivity to the city center and the environmental wellbeing of the countryside. SDCC is in the process of a 50 million euro investment program for a cluster of additional attractions across the county. 

South Dublin is home to vast green areas including the Grange Castle Golf Club, The Grand Canal Green Route, and a series of regional parks. The Grand Canal Green Route is a walkable and cycle-able path network that stretches from South Dublin into the city center, and allows cyclists in some areas to reach the city center in approximately 15 minutes. South Dublin residents can embrace the countryside by hiking the Dublin Mountains and running along the canal, all while being close to the bright lights of Dublin city center. 

How is SDCC balancing rapid growth with sustainability? 

SDCC has been awarded four million euro by the Climate Action Fund to develop Ireland’s first district heating system. We have permitted Amazon to establish a substantial data center, which will process waste heat and convert it into hot water to be utilized by the district to heat nearby buildings. It is an excellent example of global innovation within South Dublin County, which will directly benefit the local community while aiding Ireland to reach its sustainable energy targets.

  • Interview: Janis Lucaus, CEO, BTA

    Interview: Janis Lucaus, CEO, BTA

    How do you assess the insurance sector? Even though the sector caters to a small market in terms of population, it is highly competitive and evolving. A key factor to take into consideration is the number of competitors and a clear increase of international insurance players within the market. Competition has been beneficial for the…

  • Interview: Anda Caksa, Latvian Minister for Health

    Interview: Anda Caksa, Latvian Minister for Health

    How do you evaluate Latvia’s healthcare system? Over the pasttwo decades, life expectancy has increased by ten years. If we compare this to our neighbors, it is quite an achievement. However, in order to understand Latvia’s healthcare system, we need to discuss the issues and challenges that it has faced. The system has patient accessibility…

  • Interview: Edgars Rinkevics, Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs

    Interview: Edgars Rinkevics, Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs

    What are Latvia’s most prominent accomplishments? Latvia is an integral part of Europe and in May 2019 will celebrate 15 years as a part of the European Union. We are part of the eurozone, Schengen, and the OECD. Latvia operates according to similar legislation, rules, and principles as The Netherlands, Germany or Ireland. Therefore, Latvia…

  • Latvia: New electricity tariffs benefit consumers

    Latvia: New electricity tariffs benefit consumers

    Latvia is a net energy importer. Reforms continue in the electricity and gas sectors with the goal of opening competition in the domestic market. The government has made the full liberalization of the gas market a priority in 2017. Significant investments in gas and electricity infrastructure have been recorded to continue synchronization with the electricity grids…

  • Latvia: ICT sector surpassing 4% of GDP

    Latvia: ICT sector surpassing 4% of GDP

    The turnover of the ICT sector is estimated at EUR 3 400 million, accounting for 4% of the total GDP. Approximately 6 200 companies operate within the sector. ICT related services, software, hardware, and telecom sub-sectors have grown significantly in recent years. The exportation of foreign-sourced computer hardware and software are a significant share of…

  • Martins Vanags, Managing Director, Skanste Development Agency, on creating Riga’s central business district

    Martins Vanags, Managing Director, Skanste Development Agency, on creating Riga’s central business district

    In the Riga City Development Strategy for up to 2030, the Skanste neighborhood has been defined as a priority territory: the central business district of the capital, a platform for European-scale events and a quality life and work environment for many thousands of Rigans. Next to the Historic Center and the “Quiet Center” of the…

  • Baiba A. Rubesa, CEO, Rail Baltica, on creating a new economic corridor

    Baiba A. Rubesa, CEO, Rail Baltica, on creating a new economic corridor

    Rail Baltica, a new railway infrastructure connecting the three Baltic States to Poland and indirectly to Finland, is often called the project of the century. This project marks a symbolic return of the Baltic States to Europe. Currently, most rail freight traffic in the Baltics originates from the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) countries and…

  • Latvia: An evolving global financial hub

    Latvia: An evolving global financial hub

    Local demand for global financial services is limited. The banking sector makes up 90% of assets within Latvia’s financial system. The insurance sector represents 2.4% of assets while the State-funded pension scheme around 5%. Banks dominate the financial sector of Latvia, and Scandinavian banks have the dominant share of the domestic market. Latvia’s financial sector…

  • Interview: Uldis Augulis, Latvian Minister for Transport

    Interview: Uldis Augulis, Latvian Minister for Transport

    What opportunities exist to foment further transit? Latvia is situated in a very privileged geographical position. Within the Baltic States, Latvia is the focal point connecting the West to the East. Our warm-water ports currently account for the biggest cargo freight transportation amongst the Baltic countries. Transit, logistics, and distribution of goods through Latvian ports…

  • Interview: Svens Dinsdorfs, CEO, Elko Group

    Interview: Svens Dinsdorfs, CEO, Elko Group

    What is your outlook for Latvia’s Economy? Latvia’s financial crisis had a big psychological impact on society in terms of spending. Since then, Latvia has experienced a slow but gradual increase in internal consumption which has aided the countries turnaround. The confidence of the population is continuously increasing which is directly boosting internal demand. This…

  • Interview: Arvils Aseradens, Latvian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Economics

    Interview: Arvils Aseradens, Latvian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Economics

    How do you assess Latvia’s economic growth?  Four key points are behind Latvia’s economic growth; European Funds, external situation, accumulation of private savings and rising income levels. Income levels have increased 5% in the past three years. This has been a very active base for private consumption. In addition, the private sector has large amounts…

  • Interview: Marta Jaksona, Executive Director, Foreign Investors’ Council in Latvia (FICIL)

    Interview: Marta Jaksona, Executive Director, Foreign Investors’ Council in Latvia (FICIL)

    How do you assess current foreign direct investments in Latvia? I would like to see higher levels of investment. Foreign direct investments in Latvia increased sharply after Latvia’s accession to the EU in 2004. After the crisis, the investment slowed. However, we saw this in the entire EU. The fight for investments is obviously increasing.…

  • Country Profile: Latvia

    Country Profile: Latvia

    The Republic of Latvia is a small country in Northern Europe and one of the three Baltic States. Latvia is a small open economy, and its exports account for the majority of its GDP. Due to the strategic geographical position of Latvia, the transport and transit sector is highly developed. Latvia became a success story…

  • Latvia: Tourism increasing with a seasonal imbalance

    Latvia: Tourism increasing with a seasonal imbalance

    Latvia has enjoyed one of the fastest growths in the tourism sector in the EU. During the last five years alone, the number of tourists visiting Latvia has increased by 50%.  In 2016, Latvia recorded 2.3 million people in its tourist accommodation establishments. The statistics of Latvia’s Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) showed 1.3 million people…