Dewan County Cork Dorong Rencana Ekspansi Ekonomi Sektor Strategis

Dewan County Cork di Irlandia mendorong fase baru ekspansi ekonomi wilayah melalui investasi infrastruktur strategis dan pemanfaatan potensi energi terbarukan lepas pantai pada Juni 2026.

Langkah ini diambil guna mengoptimalkan kontribusi ekonomi wilayah yang saat ini menyumbang sekitar 19 persen dari total Produk Domestik Bruto (PDB) Irlandia.

Moira Murrell, Chief Executive Cork County Council, menjelaskan bahwa kekuatan wilayahnya terletak pada keberagaman ekonomi yang mampu membangun kesuksesan sektor lokal.

"Across County Cork, we are seeing how strong indigenous sectors continue to shape the region's economic success – from agri-business in the north to tourism and food innovation in the west." kata Moira Murrell, Chief Executive Cork County Council.

Sektor pertanian pangan di wilayah utara didukung oleh infrastruktur riset komprehensif melalui Teagasc Moorepark dan VistaMilk Centre.

"In North Cork, the agri-food sector remains a cornerstone of rural prosperity, supported by world-class infrastructure and research. The co-operative model continues to play a critical role in sustaining the sector, supporting primary producers, enabling innovation and strengthening the region's global reputation for dairy and agri-food excellence, while global brands – like Kerrygold, which is produced in Mitchelstown – highlight the region's international reputation for dairy excellence." kata Moira Murrell, Chief Executive Cork County Council.

Sementara itu, wilayah Cork Barat mengandalkan kombinasi antara sektor kuliner, kebudayaan, dan pariwisata terpadu.

"At the same time, West Cork demonstrates how food, culture and tourism can combine to create a high-value, experience-led visitor economy. Producers such as Clonakilty Black Pudding and Gubbeen Cheese, alongside a vibrant network of farmers, fishers and artisan businesses, are central to the region's identity and international appeal." kata Moira Murrell, Chief Executive Cork County Council.

Sektor pariwisata ini diperkuat oleh jaringan festival dan acara budaya guna menggerakkan aktivitas ekonomi sepanjang tahun.

"This strong food offering is supported by festivals, cultural events and heritage experiences, which together create a distinctive sense of place and drive year-round tourism activity." kata Moira Murrell, Chief Executive Cork County Council.

Ketahanan ekonomi menjadi karakteristik utama di seluruh wilayah Cork dalam merespons dinamika pasar global.

"Across both regions, the key theme is resilience – sectors that continue to evolve, embrace innovation and respond to changing markets while remaining rooted in local strengths." kata Moira Murrell, Chief Executive Cork County Council.

Kawasan pelabuhan Cork Harbour kini dihuni sekitar 70.000 penduduk dan menyediakan 30.000 lapangan kerja.

"Cork's success as a thriving regional economy has been built on decades of strong collaboration and strategic planning. From the Cork Land Use and Transportation Study in 1978 through to the Cork Area Strategic Plan and now Cork 2050, there has been a consistent, shared vision for how the region should grow." kata Moira Murrell, Chief Executive Cork County Council.

Kawasan Ringaskiddy menjadi pusat konsentrasi bagi perusahaan farmasi global, sains kehidupan, dan manufaktur maju.

"Successive Cork County Development Plans have sought to promote and protect this role, supporting the development of Ringaskiddy as a key location for major industry. Today, the area is home to a strong cluster of world-leading pharmaceutical, life sciences and advanced manufacturing companies, alongside a range of engineering, logistics and research-based enterprises." kata Moira Murrell, Chief Executive Cork County Council.

Pertumbuhan masa depan akan ditopang oleh proyek infrastruktur jalan tol M28 untuk aksesibilitas pelabuhan.

"We are now entering the next phase of development, with the building of critical enabling infrastructure such as the M28 motorway project, which will significantly improve access to Ringaskiddy and support continued industrial and port-related growth." kata Moira Murrell, Chief Executive Cork County Council.

Potensi terbesar Cork berikutnya terletak pada sektor pengembangan energi terbarukan lepas pantai.

"County Cork is uniquely positioned to become one of Ireland's leading locations for offshore renewable energy, not just because of its access to the south coast resource, but because of the strength of its existing port infrastructure, industrial base and skills ecosystem." kata Moira Murrell, Chief Executive Cork County Council.

Sektor ini dinilai akan membawa dampak luas bagi rantai pasok dan investasi jangka panjang regional.

"For Cork, offshore renewable energy is not a narrow energy-sector opportunity – it is a broader economic development opportunity, with the potential to support industrial competitiveness, supply-chain growth, port activity and long-term investment across the region." kata Moira Murrell, Chief Executive Cork County Council.

Investasi besar di Ringaskiddy telah memosisikan daerah tersebut sebagai pusat logistik turbin angin.

"The Port of Cork is already taking a leadership role, with significant investment in Ringaskiddy positioning the county as a critical hub for offshore wind assembly, logistics and deployment." kata Moira Murrell, Chief Executive Cork County Council.

Skala peluang ini mencakup investasi miliaran euro serta penciptaan lapangan kerja masif di sepanjang pantai selatan.

"The scale of the potential opportunity is significant, with billions in investment and substantial employment potential linked to offshore development along the south coast." kata Moira Murrell, Chief Executive Cork County Council.

Ekosistem energi yang luas memberikan keuntungan kompetitif bagi Cork dalam menghubungkan energi bersih dengan industri.

"Cork already holds a unique position nationally, with significant electricity demand, a strong industrial base and the infrastructure needed to support further renewable development. That gives us a real advantage in linking clean energy directly to jobs, enterprise and competitiveness." kata Moira Murrell, Chief Executive Cork County Council.

Pengembangan juga akan diarahkan pada hidrogen hijau, bahan bakar masa depan, dan sistem panas terdekarbonisasi.

"Cork is also well positioned to play a leading role in emerging areas such as green hydrogen, future fuels and decarbonised heat, supported by our port infrastructure and industrial ecosystem." kata Moira Murrell, Chief Executive Cork County Council.

Langkah keberlanjutan ini diintegrasikan guna menyokong aksi iklim sekaligus pertumbuhan ekonomi.

"Our focus is on building an integrated, resilient energy system that supports climate action while strengthening Cork's position as a leading location for investment, innovation and sustainable economic growth." kata Moira Murrell, Chief Executive Cork County Council.

Di sektor pelayanan profesional, peningkatan kompleksitas bisnis regional mendorong perluasan kantor EY di Cork.

"A step-change in the level and complexity of demand, with clients increasingly looking for joined-up advice, spanning multiple disciplines." kata Ronan Murray, EY Cork office lead partner.

Kantor baru EY seluas 30.000 kaki persegi diresmikan oleh Taoiseach Micheál Martin pada Februari lalu.

"Taoiseach Micheál Martin officially opened our expanded, 30,000sqft Cork office in February." kata Ronan Murray, EY Cork office lead partner.

Fasilitas ini dirancang kolaboratif untuk mencerminkan komitmen jangka panjang perusahaan di kawasan tersebut.

"This best-in-class, collaborative space was designed to support how we work with clients today and reflect our long-term commitment to the region." kata Ronan Murray, EY Cork office lead partner.

Ekspansi ini diselaraskan dengan tren pertumbuhan metropolitan yang diatur dalam Project Ireland 2040.

"This investment is closely aligned with Cork’s continued growth trajectory, which is demonstrating strong potential, supported by both a highly skilled workforce and leading institutions such as UCC and MTU, sustained investment in infrastructure, housing and connectivity. Scaling our presence ensures we can continue to support that momentum." kata Ronan Murray, EY Cork office lead partner.

Berdasarkan survei daya tarik EY, performa investasi asing langsung (FDI) di wilayah barat daya menunjukkan tren positif.

"From our EY European Attractiveness Survey, we’re seeing strong performance across the south-west, with approximately two in five FDI projects now located in regional locations." kata Ronan Murray, EY Cork office lead partner.

Keberadaan rekam jejak yang kuat di Cork krusial untuk mendukung korporasi domestik dan multinasional berkembang.

"For EY, this is driving increased demand for end-to-end support, so a strong footprint in Cork is critical to meeting demand and supporting indigenous and multinational businesses as they scale" kata Ronan Murray, EY Cork office lead partner.

Ketidakpastian geopolitik, ketegangan perdagangan, perubahan regulasi, dan gangguan pasokan menjadi perhatian utama klien saat ini.

"Uncertainty remains the defining feature of the current environment" kata Ronan Murray, EY Cork office lead partner.

Hal ini memicu permintaan dukungan strategis di bidang transformasi teknologi seperti kecerdasan buatan (AI) dan keamanan siber.

"For clients, this is increasing demand for more strategic support, particularly in resilience, AI, investment decision-making and transformation." kata Ronan Murray, EY Cork office lead partner.

Respons positif didapatkan dari para eksekutif terhadap program regional yang menghadirkan konsultan geopolitik Simon Coveney.

"We have seen an overwhelmingly positive response from C-suite clients to our exclusive Geopolitical Strategy regional events featuring Simon Coveney." kata Ronan Murray, EY Cork office lead partner.

Hal ini menegaskan pentingnya tim multidisiplin dalam membantu navigasi risiko dan peluang ekonomi klien.

"This reinforces the importance of bringing together multidisciplinary teams to help clients navigate complexity, manage risk and identify opportunity." kata Ronan Murray, EY Cork office lead partner.

Sejumlah perusahaan lokal berhasil menjadi finalis dalam program tahunan Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026.

"We continue to see strong Cork representation, with 2026 finalists including EPH Controls, ADHDNow and Dexgreen," kata Ronan Murray, EY Cork office lead partner.

Kawasan ini juga menunjukkan aktivitas merger dan akuisisi (M&A) yang kuat di pasar menengah.

"There is a strong history of finalists from the region" kata Ronan Murray, EY Cork office lead partner.

Faktor fundamental kawasan, kedalaman sektor kesehatan, teknologi, dan jasa profesional memikat pembeli internasional.

"The region’s fundamentals, a skilled workforce, strong multinational and indigenous base, and sector depth across healthcare, technology and professional services continue to attract UK, US and European buyers, alongside active private equity platforms," kata Ronan Murray, EY Cork office lead partner.

Transaksi umumnya didominasi oleh perusahaan yang dipimpin pendiri terkait perencanaan suksesi kepemimpinan.

"Founder-led businesses dominate, with succession and partial de-risking driving structured transactions, including minority investments, partnerships and phased exits." kata Ronan Murray, EY Cork office lead partner.

Tren konsolidasi tercatat aktif di sektor perawatan kesehatan, layanan keuangan, dan layanan profesional lainnya.

"This is reflected in transactions such as private equity firm BGF’s investment in Granite Digital and Ekco’s acquisition of technology specialists, DataLogiX Solutions, highlighting demand for recurring revenue models and capability-led acquisitions." kata Ronan Murray, EY Cork office lead partner.

Meskipun disiplin pasar meningkat melalui uji tuntas yang lebih dalam, prospek investasi tetap positif.

"Consolidation remains active in healthcare, financial services adjacencies and professional services, supported by private equity buy-and-build strategies. While market discipline has increased, with deeper diligence and greater use of earn-outs, the outlook is positive." kata Ronan Murray, EY Cork office lead partner.

Pertumbuhan ini turut dikonfirmasi oleh Forvis Mazars yang memperluas kapasitas kantor cabangnya di Cork sejak tahun 2024.

"There’s a real excitement about the future of Cork," kata Fiona Byrne, audit and outsourcing partner Forvis Mazars.

Jumlah personel kantor tersebut meningkat dari sekitar 30 orang menjadi hampir 50 staf profesional.

"It’s a great time to be in Cork. You have the expertise, the collaboration and the opportunity to grow." kata Fiona Byrne, audit and outsourcing partner Forvis Mazars.

Peningkatan kapasitas ini mencerminkan pengakuan Cork sebagai salah satu pusat bisnis utama di Irlandia.

"Cork is definitely on the rise, and that’s very exciting," kata Fiona Byrne, audit and outsourcing partner Forvis Mazars.

Ketersediaan lulusan berkualitas tinggi dari UCC dan MTU menjadi pilar penting bagi ketersediaan talenta lokal.

"We have the talent coming out of UCC and MTU and the standard of graduates is very strong," kata Fiona Byrne, audit and outsourcing partner Forvis Mazars.

Kombinasi ruang pertumbuhan dan konektivitas global lewat bandara serta pelabuhan memperkuat status gerbang internasional.

"We have room to grow, established ecosystems and excellent global connectivity through the airport and the ports. They are building for the future." kata Fiona Byrne, audit and outsourcing partner Forvis Mazars.

Investasi pada moda transportasi kereta api dan jaringan jalan raya membuka peluang ekspor yang lebih besar.

"There’s significant investment planned in rail and roads, and there’s also major investment going into Cork Airport," kata Fiona Byrne, audit and outsourcing partner Forvis Mazars.

Infrastruktur baru ini membuka pintu komersial yang sebelumnya tidak tersedia bagi industri lokal.

"Cork has always been a strong exporting region and the infrastructure developments taking place now are opening doors that weren’t there before." kata Fiona Byrne, audit and outsourcing partner Forvis Mazars.

Kini iklim bisnis dihadapkan pada tekanan biaya operasional dan kompleksitas regulasi pelaporan perpajakan.

"It’s all about doing the simple things effectively and getting them right," kata Fiona Byrne, audit and outsourcing partner Forvis Mazars.

Pelanggan menuntut penyerahan standar tinggi di tengah situasi hukum ketenagakerjaan yang terus berkembang.

"Clients are dealing with cost pressures and increasing complexity around taxation, employment law and reporting requirements. The expectation from customers is that everything is delivered to a very high standard." kata Fiona Byrne, audit and outsourcing partner Forvis Mazars.

Kondisi kompleks mendorong kebutuhan akan masukan strategis waktu nyata (real-time) di luar sekadar kepatuhan regulasi.

"Clients expect a lot more than compliance now," kata Fiona Byrne, audit and outsourcing partner Forvis Mazars.

Pendekatan lokal dengan kapabilitas jaringan internasional menjadi keunggulan perusahaan dalam melayani pasar menengah.

"They want real-time access, insights and strategic input. They want somebody who understands their business." kata Fiona Byrne, audit and outsourcing partner Forvis Mazars.

Integrasi praktik keluarga James Byrne & Company ke dalam Forvis Mazars pada 2024 memperluas layanan audit serta perpajakan.

"The key thing for us is that we have local presence with enhanced capabilities," kata Fiona Byrne, audit and outsourcing partner Forvis Mazars.

Dukungan tim nasional dan internasional yang luas dikerahkan untuk memecahkan persoalan bisnis klien secara internal.

"It’s about adding value and being a trusted adviser, somebody clients can pick up the phone and talk to." kata Fiona Byrne, audit and outsourcing partner Forvis Mazars.

Pengalaman mengelola bisnis keluarga membantu dalam memahami dinamika emosional perusahaan yang dikelola pemilik langsung.

"We have all the core services in Cork, plus a huge wider team behind us," kata Fiona Byrne, audit and outsourcing partner Forvis Mazars.

Pendekatan personal ini dinilai krusial untuk mendampingi pelaku usaha melalui ekspansi dan perencanaan suksesi.

"There’s always somebody who has solved that problem before. We have the capabilities in-house to solve most of our clients’ problems." kata Fiona Byrne, audit and outsourcing partner Forvis Mazars.

Budaya kolaborasi berorientasi komunitas menjadi salah satu kelebihan iklim usaha di kawasan Cork.

"Having run our own business, you understand the trials and tribulations of owner-managed businesses," kata Fiona Byrne, audit and outsourcing partner Forvis Mazars.

Pendampingan bisnis dalam menghadapi tantangan korporasi akan dijalankan secara bersama-sama.

"You understand the emotional side of it as well." kata Fiona Byrne, audit and outsourcing partner Forvis Mazars.

Antusiasme dan gairah para wirausahawan merupakan elemen pekerjaan yang paling bernilai.

"Being approachable and relatable is important," kata Fiona Byrne, audit and outsourcing partner Forvis Mazars.

Forvis Mazars berkomitmen mendukung pertumbuhan jangka panjang para wirausahawan tersebut.

"Business owners have often built something from scratch. Understanding that journey matters." kata Fiona Byrne, audit and outsourcing partner Forvis Mazars.

Karakteristik Cork yang berfokus pada pemecahan masalah bersama mempermudah integrasi layanan penasihat tepercaya.

"What makes Cork special is the collaboration," kata Fiona Byrne, audit and outsourcing partner Forvis Mazars.

Kemitraan strategis ini memosisikan Cork sebagai penyeimbang pertumbuhan ekonomi nasional selain wilayah Dublin.

"It’s very community-oriented and there’s a real focus on solving problems." kata Fiona Byrne, audit and outsourcing partner Forvis Mazars.

Sebagai bagian dari inklusi sosial, Cork City Partnership menjalankan Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2024-2028.

"With every opportunity there are challenges to be managed," kata Fiona Byrne, audit and outsourcing partner Forvis Mazars.

Program ini didanai bersama oleh Pemerintah Irlandia dan Uni Eropa melalui European Social Fund Plus di bawah program EIST 2021-2027.

"We’ll be there with clients as they manage those challenges. We go on that journey together." kata Fiona Byrne, audit and outsourcing partner Forvis Mazars.

Kontrak pelaksanaan SICAP di Kota Cork diserahkan sepenuhnya kepada Cork City Partnership untuk mengatasi kemiskinan tingkat lokal.

"My favourite part is seeing the enthusiasm in entrepreneurs’ eyes and the passion they have for what they’ve built," kata Fiona Byrne, audit and outsourcing partner Forvis Mazars.

"Being there to support them in their growth journey is a privilege." kata Fiona Byrne, audit and outsourcing partner Forvis Mazars.

"The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) is co-funded by the Irish Government, through the Department of Rural and Community Development and the European Union through the European Social Fund Plus under the Employment, Inclusion, Skills and Training (EIST) Programme 2021 -2027." kata rilis resmi Pemerintah Irlandia.

"Tá an Clár um Chuimsiú Sóisialta agus Gníomhachtú Pobail (SICAP) cómhaoinithe ag Rialtas na hÉireann, tríd an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus ag an Aontas Eorpach trí Chiste Sóisialta na hEorpa Plus faoin gClár Fostaíochta, Cuimsiú, Skileanna agus Oiliúna (EIST) 2021 – 2027." kata rilis resmi Pemerintah Irlandia dalam bahasa Gaelik.