merrion street

Jobs Minister Richard Bruton today welcomed the publication of the Forbes annual ranking of the Best Countries for Business, which put Ireland in first place worldwide.

Speaking from Indonesia where he is attending the World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference and EU Trade Council, the Minister said:

Today’s finding by Forbes that we are the best country in the world for business is above all a testament to the hard work and innovation of our businesses and workers. It is the latest in a range of indicators which shows that the environment for business here is steadily improving, and shows that the hard work and sacrifices of so many people are yielding tangible results in terms of international competitiveness and the jobs we so badly need.

Government has a key role too in delivering improvements in the environment for business. Before the election we said that we would seek to make Ireland the best small country in the world for business and order to achieve this, we put in place the Action Plan for Jobs to drive change across the economy. Over the past two years every Department and dozens of Agencies have worked hard to deliver the reforms needed in competitiveness and improved supports for Irish and multinational businesses.

Through continued implementation of the Action Plan this year and in future years, we in Government are determined to ensure that we sustain these improvements and cement our reputation as the best country in the world for business – and crucially, build on this to create the jobs we need.