Major areas of expertise include International Consultancy Assignments in 60 countries, 4 continents
Recent International Assignments include Turkey, Egypt, Syria, Armenia, Bosnia and many more.
Since it established the world's first industrial Free Zone in 1959, Shannon Development has become widely recognised as an important source of expertise in the design, layout and implementation of Special Economic Zones and industrial parks. To date, the Shannon Free Zone model of producing goods and services for export has been emulated in over 70 countries world-wide. The services we offer include feasibility studies, master planning, legal and regulatory frameworks, infrastructure needs identification, financing, project implementation and ongoing management.
Shannon Development has been assisting countries to design foreign direct investment promotion policies and programmes since 1964. This assistance can also extend into implementation. Services include investment policy framing, design of incentive packages, sectoral analysis, investment promotion strategies, and preparation of targeted investment promotion campaigns.
Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SME's) account for over three quarters of businesses world-wide. They provide the essential business infrastructure for larger enterprise and are the basic source of employment creation, entrepreneurial activity and wealth creation in any economy. Ensuring the viability, profitability and growth of SME's is therefore of critical importance in strengthening the regional business community. Shannon Development pioneered Ireland's first SME programme in 1978 to foster the creation on new enterprises and support sustainable competitive advantage through growth in sales, exports and employment. Solutions offered range across capability building in firms in areas such as strategy assessment and formulation, business development advice, innovation, R&D, marketing, sales, agile logistics, HR and finance.
The process of innovation and technology transfer is fundamental to wealth creation in any economy. Working to generate and develop what are recognised as new high potential start up companies was a traditional priority for Shannon Development.
Assisting companies through their development stage requires a distinct set of skills and supports. To achieve this, Shannon Development strives to make available an added value managed environment. Our experience extends to the provision of digitally networked business incubation centres, project and business development advice, feasibility studies, provision of mentoring services, access to early stage funding and HR support.
As many of the world’s economies transition towards information driven societies, new requirements include technologies, infrastructures, applications and services, accessible and usable by all.
In response to these challenges Shannon Development, through initiatives such as its broadband deployment and e-towns projects, has been delivering solutions to facilitate individuals and organisations to innovate, become more effective and efficient in their work and businesses, and improve their competitiveness and quality of working life.
A global industry in its own right, tourism encompasses a number of key sectors, including visitor accommodation, air transport policy and operations, the travel trade, day visitor attractions and entertainment.
Our experience extends to tourism strategy formulation and market planning, development of public sector tourism policy, new product development, feasibility studies, visitor services, market analysis, e-business and destination marketing and investment project appraisal.
Preservation of the physical artefacts of a society can attract tourism and preserve today’s treasures for tomorrow’s generations.
Brief Case Study: Bunratty Castle
As Ireland’s premier visitor attraction and one of a portfolio of heritage attractions offered by Shannon Development. Bunratty Castle and Folk Park offers two wonderful experiences – the acclaimed 15th century Bunratty Castle and 19th century Bunratty Folk Park. The Castle is the most complete and authentic medieval fortress in Ireland. Built in 1425 it was restored in 1954 to its former medieval splendour and now contains mainly 15th and 16th century furnishings, tapestries, and works of art which capture the mood of those times. Bunratty Castle is a key tourism product in Ireland’s Shannon Region and hosts nightly medieval banquets attended by visitors from around the world.
There is increasing understanding of the importance and benefits of coastal development in integrated economic development.
Brief Case Study: Five Star Golf Resort in the West of Ireland.
Doonbeg Golf Development, Ireland’s Shannon Region. An international Public Private Partnership maximised local and regional development impact using EU structural funds as an investment lever. In 1997 following extensive research and feasibility studies, Shannon Development decided to use ERDF Structural Funds to secure a major international tourism investment project for the region, resulting in a five star Golf and Leisure resort being built. This experience highlights the important role of the local Regional Development Agency in leading and being the catalyst for such opportunities. It also demonstrates the important strategic use of public funds to lever a major investment into a small rural community on Ireland’s west cost.
Brief Case Study: LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) Project
Shannon Development has a portfolio of sites aimed at providing property solutions for mobile investment in search of suitable locations. One of the company’s land banks is strategically located adjacent to deep navigable water in Ireland’s Shannon Estuary. Following an assessment of the international sectors appropriate to such a location consistent with Ireland’s economic needs, a decision was taken to seek expressions of interest in the international market, particularly from businesses in the energy sector. This led to Shannon Development entering negotiations with a world-class business in the LNG sector (Liquefied Natural Gas), which proposes developing an importation, re-gasification and distribution project at the site involving an investment of approximately €500 million. As most of Ireland’s LNG is currently imported by pipeline, this project will provide an important alternative means of accessing LNG to meet the country’s growing requirements. From a regional development perspective, this development has the potential to represent a regional solution to a national energy concern.