Welcome from the President of the Midlands Gateway Chamber
These are challenging times. In the sound bytes and information that whisper their way across the oceans to these shores, the word of the moment appears to be ‘change’. Change in terms of economic circumstances. Change in how we manage our natural resources. Change in global power structures As a small nation operating within a global environment, our capacity to exert influence on these outside forces is limited. However, we too must face up to change in how we operate. Expert bodies and opinion shapers have variously predicted challenging and upbeat forecasts for this country over the next number of years.
While we do not know the extent to which the economy will grow or contract over the coming period, it is all too apparent that we cannot operate as economic scarecrows, seeking to ward off potential threats. The ongoing future success of the Midlands Gateway – and indeed the nation as a whole – will depend on carefully made strategic decisions. Decisions that will influence the quality of life enjoyed by our people. Decisions that will determine the attractiveness of the Gateway to industry. Decisions that will breathe life into the notion of a knowledge society. The Midlands Gateway Chamber has a critical role to play in making these decisions.
As the sole organisation completely dedicated to this region, the Chamber will work in partnership with government, public sector, industry and community stakeholders to ensure that the right decisions are made for this Gateway. This mandate comes from a powerful community of 700 businesses and traders, as represented by the three town Chambers of Athlone, Tullamore and Mullingar. It is a significant responsibility and one that we take very seriously.
Considerable progress has already been made in delivering on the enterprise, infrastructure and quality of life agendas of the Midlands Gateway Chamber. There is a greater sense of awareness – regionally, nationally and internationally – of what the Gateway has to offer. My ambition for the Chamber over the coming year is that it will help to strengthen the knowledge society in the Midlands Gateway. Above all else, I believe this to be the crucial factor in determining the ongoing success of the urban centres and hub towns across four county boundaries that define this Gateway. Midlands is already a hub for advanced industry in the med tech, health and life science, ICT and engineering domains. In this increasingly competitive global market, we must be truly innovative in how we make the Gateway a must-locate choice for such companies. The R&D capability of the Midlands , a strong innovation culture and the skills base of the population are critical factors in this regard. To this end, we will deliver on our plans to develop a research campus, build innovation centres and create outreach facilities for up-skilling and re-skilling. These collaborative initiatives will be a powerful combination of enterprise, R&D and knowledge partners
Finally, I want to thank and pay tribute to Eugene Moore for his enormous energy as inaugural President of the Midlands Gateway Chamber. Launching any new organisation or initiative takes not only passion and commitment, but endless amounts of sheer hard work. In this, Eugene was ably assisted by his fellow committee members and I look forward to harnessing that creative and organisational talent over the coming twelve months. A vibrant, successful Midlands Gateway can deliver enormous benefits for all. Let us be strong in our resolve and bold in our ambition, and ensure that we deliver for this great region.
For more information please contact info@midlandsgatewaychamber.ie or 087 948 0007
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