Ireland wants to attract U.S. capital

• Ireland wants to present itself as a place where companies can gain a foothold in the European market, while at the same time offering access to a faster-growing emerging market, said Barry O'Leary, chief executive of Ireland's Investment and Development Agency, or IDA.
• At the peak of the global financial crisis, Ireland hemorrhaged foreign direct investment and the country was on the brink of financial collapse. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development reported $20 billion was taken out of Ireland's economy in 2008, almost as much as the $25 billion that was invested in 2007. However, in the first quarter of this year, inflows resumed, totaling $1.1 billion, UNCTAD said in September.
• Meanwhile, the IDA launched a new campaign initiative in the U.S. a few weeks ago to garner more business, featuring Google Inc. (GOOG), Facebook and Boston Scientific Corp. (BSX), which have offices in Ireland. Outside the U.S., the IDA is also focused on expanding its business network in emerging markets to attract more businesses to come to Ireland.
• The agency opened an office in China in 2007, in India in March 2008, in Brazil in May 2009 and in Russia in June 2009.