US investment in Ireland surged in 2011 to reach a new record, according to figures published yesterday by the US Department of Commerce.
The value of all direct investment by US firms in Ireland stood at $188 billion at the end of last year, an increase of just over $30 billion on 2010. The figures suggest the impact of Ireland’s EU-IMF bailout on American foreign direct investment (FDI) has been negligible.
Last year Ireland accounted for more than 8 per cent of the total stock of US FDI in Europe. Reflecting the size of the IFSC, half of US FDI is accounted for by holding companies. IT and chemicals are the industries in which US firms invest most here.
