AS ROCKETING unemployment in Ireland continues, a new report suggests that immigrants in Ireland could hold the key to reinvigorating the economy.
The report on the challenges and promise for immigrant entrepreneurship in Dublin, launched yesterday in the capital, was drawn up by US Fulbright Scholar Dr Jack Pinkowski with the financial support of the Fulbright Commission of Ireland and Dublin City Council.
Dr Pinkowski said in the report: “Dublin may be a leader and trend setter in this new approach to economic development that will directly contribute to expansion of the gross national product (GNP) by encouraging new growth in domestic firms through entrepreneurship.”
According to him, all that is needed to achieve this fit is to create a more conducive atmosphere for immigrants to operate. This means accepting those who have come to live here with open arms.
“Substantial benefits can come from proactive celebration of diversity and openness in the city and in its administration and delivery of services to multiple constituencies and ethnicities,” he said.
Regarding the availability of official services that are extremely important in starting and growing businesses in the State, Dr Pinkowski said services providers should certainly do more: “Most support agencies, including the Dublin City Council Economic Development Unit can improve their outreach to prospective immigrant entrepreneurs by networking with other agencies and universities.”
He added that new working relationships with immigrant media groups would help in bringing the message home to immigrant entrepreneurs.
And for services to immigrants to be effective, immigrants must be employed by service providers to help in delivering those services.
Services need inclusion
“Better services to immigrant communities would be realised by proactive efforts to include new employees in administration from these communities who are more familiar with the issues, attitudes and challenges that they face,” he explained.
Dr Pinkowski also said that the current business permit scheme for non-EEA nationals wishing to do business in Ireland should be reviewed to make it more friendly.
“This should contribute toward economic development by evaluation on realistic criteria for entrepreneurship viability that is typical of Irish businesses,” he stated.
