Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 May 2024
264. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to report on the work of the IDA office in Japan since its establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21429/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraJapan is the 6th largest investor globally by employment and the largest investor from the Asia Pacific region with strong cross-sectoral representation.
IDA Ireland’s Tokyo office was established in 1974 and is focused on attracting and maintaining foreign direct investment from Japanese enterprises across Information & Communication Technologies (ICT), Life Sciences (Pharmaceuticals & Medical Technologies) and Financial Services sectors.
The current team comprises 3 people including the Director for the Japan market, one marketing executive and an office/events manager. The Director for the Asia PAC region is also based in the Tokyo office. The team in Tokyo primarily engages in direct marketing and business development activities with potential Japanese clients, and co-ordinates high profile visits by Government delegations to Japan as well as visits by Japanese investors to Ireland.
The office has been successful in continuing the growth of Japanese FDI in Ireland. Currently there are 42 IDA Ireland supported Japanese client companies in Ireland, with 55 operations employing circa 8,000 people. Japanese investment is located across the country in line with the IDA's regional enterprise development objectives, with companies situated in Kerry, Cork, Limerick, Clare, Donegal, Waterford, Kildare, Dundalk, Wicklow and Galway. This number continues on an upward trajectory with investment in the form of new names, expansions and acquisitions steadily increasing, including the recent announcement by Astellas pharmaceutical to invest €330 million to build a new facility in Tralee.
