The same chances for all regions

The Irish Chambers of Commerce network, Chambers Ireland, is the largest organisation in the country. It provides the 12,000 companies that it represents with assistance covering the various development stages of a business, as well as training and additional support services that are as relevant as possible. Chambers Ireland also plays an active role in negotiating commercial agreements. It focuses on treating all regions equally and offers exactly the same services to all companies, from Dublin to Cork and from Galway to Waterford. When a company joins one of Ireland’s 60 local chambers, it gains access to a global offering that includes business opportunity detection, development support, training and many other benefits. “Regions often lack the capacity to modernise themselves and to respond to market challenges. We are anxious to erase disparities between localities in order to optimise their potential,” explains  Jessica Dempsey, Officer at Chambers Ireland. A sign of this development is significant investment in transport. By 2015, 16.2 billion euros will have gone into modernising and developing the road network, particularly between the economic areas in the west and the cities of Dublin and Belfast. The main areas involved are Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford.Since 2006, a tunnel has cut 50 minutes from the journey time between the town of Dundalk and Dublin’s business district. The rapid development of all forms of transport is a priority issue for the chamber network and it regularly organises meetings with other influential groups such as the Transport Users Council.Chambers Ireland ensures that all communications media (logos, website, leaflets, etc.) are standardised to enable chambers to speak with a single voice across the country. “Although certain projects are specific to the context of local economies, we want to keep an overall strategy for everyone’s mutual benefit. This leads to a strengthening of our relationships and effectiveness,” says Jessica Dempsey. Including the image of the country’s Chambers outside Ireland.To bolster its influence abroad, Chambers Ireland maintains particularly close ties with the BCC (British Chambers of Commerce) and the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce. A technology specific exchange portal is available as part of the Chambers Ireland “Grow Your Company IQ” development programme. The aim of the programme is to provide managers and their businesses with qualitative development assistance, particularly in the areas of innovation and technology transfer. The programme was developed in partnership with the European Social Fund and the National Development Plan. “New technologies are crucial to fostering interaction between decision makers and entrepreneurs of all kinds,” says Myron Robinson, Technology Transfer Manager at Chambers Ireland. “We want to make the most of them in order to realize ever one’s full potential.” More than 200 companies use the secure exchange web portal. Members are provided with online communication and data storage facilities. The secure platform also ensures confidentiality and offers direct links with specific stakeholders (suppliers, partners, etc.). “By facilitating dialogue, the portal provides ideas and creates opportunities. The goal is also to set up a favourable context for associations and joint projects,” explains Myron Robinson.