Shannon Development yesterday announced plans to build a new hub for air commerce at Shannon Airport which, according to its chief executive, Mr Kevin Thompstone, has the potential to double jobs and exports in the mid-west region by 2020, writes Gordon Deegan.
At the publication of the agency's end-of-year statement, Mr Thompstone said the creation of an "agile logistics hub" at Shannon, where people, goods, information and services could be moved quickly between Ireland and global markets, could give the State a competitive edge in international commerce.
He said the agency had commissioned a study to explore the potential of Shannon Airport as a major international logistics hub for Europe and Ireland.
Pointing out that Shannon had the capacity to accommodate the additional traffic, Mr Thompstone said: "Initial research suggests that it has the potential to become a major air-cargo hub with an integrated air, road, rail and port transport system capable of delivering goods anywhere in Europe within 24-48 hours."
He told a press briefing in Limerick yesterday: "In future, mobile international investment will seek out locations which provide fast, flexible and efficient access to their global suppliers and customers."
The trend of job losses continued last year in the region, although Mr Thompstone said the trend was "almost arrested".