The President of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland (CPA Ireland), Mr Brian Purcell has urged Irish small and medium enterprises to seek a new course for growth outside the limited domestic economy, and to look to their multinational neighbours for guidance in terms of developing best business practises and increased competitiveness. 

He made these comments yesterday at the CPA Annual President’s Dinner in Trinity College.

Purcell called for assistance from state agencies, and indeed multinationals themselves.

"Most Irish SMEs are nowhere close to achieving all or even some of those objectives, but they should be given whatever assistance is required to help them move up the value chain," he said.

"State agencies should provide whatever support and mentoring necessary, but every effort should be made to get FDI companies to help SMEs achieve the objectives.

"This would be good for the multinationals, the SMEs and the economy in general and, if successful, the projected number of indirect jobs supported by FDI companies in 2019 could easily be 75,000 higher than the projected 146,158 jobs."

Source: www.businessworld.ie