INVESTMENT
Ireland 'a beachfront' for US business
04-10-2000
by Joe Lynam
Ireland is the key location for all potential US investors in Europe, the Secretary of Technology for the US State of Virginia, Donald Upson, said on Tuesday.
"Ireland is without doubt the beachfront for business in Europe," Upson told the monthly First Tuesday gathering of technology managers and entrepreneurs at the Temple Theatre in Dublin. "Until we came to Ireland, we though that the State Government in Virginia was the best in terms of fostering technology growth in the US."
The Federal State of Virginia has the highest concentration of hi-tech companies in the United States, with over 13,000 technology companies, most of which are start-ups.
Also speaking at First Tuesday was the chief executive officer of Experiment Technologies, Michael Glotz, who was accompanying Secretary Upson in Dublin and described Ireland's Digital Park in CityWest, Co Dublin, as the finest such scheme he had seen anywhere in the world.
"You have a real good thing going here. Ireland is definitely the entry point to Europe for US business. I only hope that a direct air route can be opened between Dublin and Dulles International airport in Virginia," said Glotz.
Also speaking at First Tuesday was Maura Roe, who advised the conference on how best to attract and retain quality staff through company share option schemes.
Aidan McGrath also made a short presentation about the FÁS-sponsored e-business training programmes in Dundalk, Cork and Dublin.
Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 